Project Profile: Froedtert ThedaCare Fond du Lac Community Hospital

Hplex Solutions Serves as Owner’s Representative for an Innovative Community Hospital

Designed under an innovative community hospital model, this new facility provides critical emergency and inpatient healthcare services within a smaller, highly efficient footprint. This project reflects a shared commitment by Froedtert ThedaCare Health to expand convenient access to high-quality, patient-centered care for the growing community of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Hplex Solutions’ Role

As the Owner’s Representative, Hplex Solutions provided comprehensive leadership from the initial conceptual design phase through construction, move-in, and final activation. We facilitated an integrated team approach, ensuring seamless coordination between the client (Froedtert ThedaCare Health), the architect (HGA), the construction manager (Miron Construction), the civil and landscape engineers (Sigma), and operational consultants.

Our involvement went well beyond traditional construction oversight. We actively coordinated with clinical end-users, medical equipment planners, procurement teams, and furniture vendors to ensure a smooth transition into the new space. We also supported the integration of community-focused touches, including coordinating a local photography contest to source artwork for the hospital.

Unique Challenges and Strategic Solutions

Delivering this dynamic project required navigating several complex parameters, which Hplex managed through proactive communication and strategic planning:

• Retail Center Integration: Built to replace an aging mall, the hospital is uniquely situated within a retail center. Our team meticulously coordinated with retail property management to ensure the hospital's construction and design met all existing property agreements without compromising clinical needs.    

• Pre-Merger Joint Venture: Initiated as a joint venture between Froedtert and ThedaCare before their official merger, the project demanded clear, consistent communication to align the distinct operational goals of two separate health systems into a single, unified facility.

• Evolving Design Scope: Originally planned using a templated hospital design, the project’s scope naturally expanded as the specific clinical needs of the region became clearer. Hplex smoothly managed these design modifications to keep the project on track and on budget.
  

Facility Features and Sustainable Innovations

The 25,000-square-foot facility is carefully designed to maximize clinical efficiency, patient comfort, and environmental responsibility.

Key features include:

• Targeted Clinical Space: 10 inpatient beds for observation and extended care.

• Advanced Emergency Care: An 8-room Emergency Department, featuring a specially designed trauma room to handle critical cases.

• Comprehensive Diagnostics: State-of-the-art imaging capabilities, including X-ray, CT scans, and dedicated access for Mobile MRI services.

• Sustainable Design: A major highlight of the project is the inclusion of a highly efficient geothermal heating system. This sustainable infrastructure significantly reduces the building's environmental impact and allows the client to pursue federal sustainability incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Impact

The Fond du Lac Community Hospital stands as a modern, accessible healthcare destination that meets patients right where they live and work. By leveraging a targeted community hospital model, Froedtert ThedaCare Health can deliver rapid, life-saving emergent care and vital inpatient services to the community efficiently. At Hplex Solutions, we are honored to have guided this complex project to success, delivering a vital asset that will support the health and wellness of northeast Wisconsin for years to come.

Project Facts:

Client: Froedtert ThedaCare Health
Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Size: 25,000 sq. ft.
Services Provided: Owner Representation, Conceptual Planning, Project Coordination, Activation Oversight
Architect: HGA
Construction Manager: Miron Construction
Civil/Landscape Engineer: Sigma Completion: April 2025