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The demolition of the old Kremmling Memorial Hospital took place on Nov. 14.
Courtesy Tiffany Freitag
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Following the demolition of the old building, the space where the former basement was has been filled with dirt to compact over winter.
Courtesy Tiffany Freitag
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A rendering of the design of the front entrance to the new hospital.
Courtesy Middle Park Health
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A rendering of the back entrance of the new hospital in Kremmling.
Courtesy Middle Park Health
After 86 years, the original Kremmling Memorial Hospital building, now known as Middle Park Health-Kremmling, has been razed to make way for a new hospital wing.
The demolition of the old hospital and construction of a new wing are part of Middle Park Health’s bigger expansion plans to meet growing needs within the county.
“It is super exciting,” said Tiffany Freitag, director of community relations for Middle Park Health.
Earlier this summer, the old hospital underwent asbestos abatement, which finished in September, clearing the way for demolition.
However, before construction on the new wing can begin, the space that formerly housed the old basement must be filled with dirt and left to compact over the winter months.
“As early in the spring as weather allows is when construction will begin,” Freitag said.
Officials at the hospital are expecting construction to take 12-14 months, but Freitag noted the construction won’t disrupt the hospital’s extended care residents.
The administration offices and physical therapy previously housed in the old hospital have already moved elsewhere in the hospital and the Kremmling Wellness Center, respectively.
The new wing will add about 14,500 square feet to the Kremmling hospital and house the clinic, hospital and ancillary services, such as radiology and lab space. While the hospital isn’t planning to add services with the extra space, Freitag said it will make the hospital more efficient.
Instead of having different entrances for the emergency department, the clinic and the hospital, the new layout will have just one check-in point.
“There will be much less confusion,” Freitag said.
Middle Park Health also hopes to begin construction on the Granby campus’ expansion in the spring corresponding with the Kremmling timeline. The hospital also continues to plan for its new location in Fraser.