New $947M Western State Hospital Facility Underway in Lakewood

State officials provide updates on the massive mental health treatment campus construction project.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:33pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray-style image revealing the internal architectural structure of a modern psychiatric hospital building, with glowing lines defining the layout of interconnected wings, courtyards, and open spaces.An X-ray-like rendering of the new Western State Hospital Facility's interconnected campus design, showcasing the therapeutic focus on patient wellbeing through open courtyards and natural light.Lakewood Today

As construction continues on the new $947 million Western State Hospital Facility in Lakewood, Washington, the state Department of Social and Health Services recently gave an update to the Lakewood City Council. The new 350-bed forensic hospital will serve patients who need mental health restoration treatment as part of their criminal-court orders. Design renderings show a sprawling interconnected campus with flowering courtyards for staff and patients surrounded by buildings, rather than tall, barbed wire fences.

Why it matters

The new Western State Hospital Facility is the single largest construction project in the history of Lakewood and the largest project in all of Washington state, excluding road construction. It represents a significant investment in mental health infrastructure and a shift towards a more therapeutic, patient-centered approach to forensic psychiatric care.

The details

Although 13 buildings at the 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW campus were demolished to make way for the new hospital facility, a majority of the existing hospital structures will remain. The new hospital is expected to open by August 2028. The exterior will have a basket-weave style facade 'that we believe ties in nicely to the Pacific Northwest,' according to David Chipchase, quality manager of Western State Hospital.

  • Construction on the new $947 million Western State Hospital Facility in Lakewood, Washington began in 2026.
  • The new 350-bed forensic hospital is expected to open by August 2028.

The players

Western State Hospital

A state-run psychiatric hospital that provides mental health treatment, including for patients who need restoration treatment as part of their criminal-court orders.

David Chipchase

The quality manager of Western State Hospital who provided an update on the new facility to the Lakewood City Council.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

The state agency overseeing the construction of the new Western State Hospital Facility in Lakewood.

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What they’re saying

“This is the single largest construction project in the history of Lakewood, it's the largest project in all the state of Washington monetarily, minus road construction.”

— David Chipchase, Quality Manager, Western State Hospital

What’s next

The new Western State Hospital Facility is expected to open in August 2028 after several years of construction on the $947 million project.

The takeaway

The new Western State Hospital Facility represents a significant investment in mental health infrastructure and a shift towards a more therapeutic, patient-centered approach to forensic psychiatric care. The sprawling, interconnected campus design with flowering courtyards is a departure from the traditional institutional model, signaling a focus on patient wellbeing and recovery.