Trinity Health is looking for a new project manager for a medical complex to be built in southwest Minot.

Trinity has discontinued its contract with its project manager, Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis, said spokesman Randy Schwan. Mortenson is a leading builder of healthcare, sports and cultural facilities in the United States, with projects that include the new Minnesota Vikings stadium in the Twin Cities, the Alerus Center in Grand Forks and the newly constructed Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.

Schwan said Trinity is evaluating other firms to replace Mortenson. Project costs produced by Mortenson were signficantly higher than expected, and Trinity believes another project manager will be able to lower those costs, he said.

“Once we can confirm that’s the case, we will move forward,” Schwan said.

The estimated $275 million construction project would be one of the largest in Minot’s history. Schwan said dirt and preparation work will start this spring as has been scheduled. Construction is expected to take just over 2.5 years, finishing in 2019.

The project covers more than a million square feet, with 850,000 square feet enclosed. It calls for a connected six-story hospital and clinic building, along with a three-story facility for behavioral health services.

Plans call for 208 beds throughout the center, including 157 nursing beds, a 20-bed intensive care unit and an emergency/trauma center with 27 treatment bays. The site area covers 76 acres and will include more than 1,900 parking spaces.

Due to the size of the project and the demand it will place on city building inspection staff, the Minot City Council plans to hire a consultant to provide plan review and field inspection. The council postponed Monday’s meeting to March 13, when it will act on a committee recommendation to hire JLG/KLJ.