Buena Vista Regional Medical Center is moving ahead with a major campus expansion.
The BVRMC Board of Trustees has approved plans to construct a new medical office building on the hospital campus—an investment hospital leaders say will modernize primary care services and improve access for patients across the region.
The roughly 30,000‑square‑foot facility will be built just north of the hospital’s main entrance. It will bring together all UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine providers and the BVRMC Pharmacy under one roof, creating what officials describe as a more efficient, patient‑centered environment.
Board Chair Dr. Rick Lampe says the project is part of the hospital’s long‑term strategy to prepare for the future of health care in northwest Iowa. He says consolidating services in a modern space will strengthen the campus, support providers, and ensure families continue to have access to high‑quality care close to home.
The project carries an estimated $20 million price tag, with groundbreaking planned for this spring and completion expected next year.
Hospital leaders emphasize that no new taxes will be requested from the community. The project will be funded through BVRMC’s operational income and financial reserves—something officials say reflects the medical center’s long‑standing commitment to responsible financial stewardship.
The new building also marks a significant shift in how family medicine services are organized locally. In the 1980s, the area’s two family medicine clinics joined what eventually became UnityPoint Health. By bringing all family medicine providers together on the BVRMC campus, officials say patients will gain more convenient access to care, and providers will benefit from closer proximity to hospital services and more efficient workflows.
UnityPoint Health leaders echoed that message. Regional Vice President Jennifer Crimmins said the coordinated space will make it easier for patients to get the care they need and help care teams deliver a better overall experience.
The project also includes a new home for BVRMC Pharmacy, Storm Lake’s only locally-owned pharmacy. The design calls for expanded service areas and a drive‑up window to improve convenience for patients.
Plans for the pharmacy’s current location—and for the BV Clinic building—are still under discussion.
Graham Construction will serve as construction manager for the expansion project and InVision Architecture will be the project architect.
BVRMC CEO Rob Colerick says the new medical office building is an important investment in making the medical center both the best place for physicians to practice and the best place for patients to receive care. He says providing primary care teams with modern, purpose‑built spaces will help ensure accessible, high‑quality health care for years to come.
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center has served the region for more than 70 years, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. Hospital leaders say this latest project reflects their ongoing commitment to modern, community‑focused health care.
