By Christopher Snowbeck

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

ROCHESTER — The Mayo Clinic will spend $72.1 million to expand and renovate a portion of its St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, according to an announcement Monday.

The project could be the first large example of capital spending by the clinic that might eventually trigger state funding for an economic development project in Rochester called Destination Medical Center.

Legislation signed by Gov. Mark Dayton earlier this year called for the state to provide up to $327 million in support for public infrastructure projects in Rochester once the clinic spends at least $200 million for construction of buildings in Rochester.

State support for public transit and certain construction costs could bring the total tab to $404 million.

“The expansion and renovation at St. Marys Hospital supports the Destination Medical Center’s infrastructure by investing in improvements to increase the quality of care delivered to patients,” the clinic said in a statement Monday.

The building project would add five floors to the Mary Brigh East Building and renovate the third floor of the Domitilla Building, both of which are part of St. Marys Hospital.

Both projects are expected to begin during the second quarter of 2014 and are slated for completion in early 2016. The projects should promote greater efficiency in caring for patients as well as improved patient safety, according to clinic officials.

“Hospitals are the location where care is delivered to the most complex and seriously ill patients,” said Dr. Amy Williams, medical director of hospital operations, in a news release. “Patient safety is of the utmost concern in the hospital setting, and this project will meet the needs of the patient by creating a safe and welcoming environment that is patient and family focused.”

In lobbying for the legislation earlier this year, Mayo Clinic officials said they would invest $3.5 billion over 20 years to solidify Rochester as the clinic’s global headquarters for care. The clinic projected that other private parties would invest an additional $2.1 billion, and predicted Destination Medical Center would create 30,000 jobs over two decades.

State officials next year would certify whether the St. Marys project costs actually will count against the $200 million trigger for state funds. No state funds can be directed to the DMC project until 2015, at the earliest.

Distributed by MCT Information Services