When you WSH upon a state-of-the-art facility…

A management team from Western State Hospital recently updated the Lakewood City Council on the construction of the forensic hospital underway.  

Mayor Paul Bocchi referred to it as “the single biggest construction project in the history of Lakewood”. 

Mark Chipchase is the Quality Manager, but essentially serves as the project manager as he has done since the design phase with the intent of making a “safe, therapeutic, and environmentally friendly” building.

Chipchase added that this construction will be the most expensive building in Washington state.  Construction began the middle of last year and the new facility will stretch the length of 3 football fields.  The 4 story building will contain 350 beds.

13 buildings were flattened to make room for this, buildings that were 75 years old.  

The focus will shift from primarily civil to primarily forensic, meaning more criminal court residency. 

The building is expected to be completed in 2028.