Logan Reid
Construction on the new Broughton Hospital began in January 2012 and was expected to be completed in around 2.5 years. However, as of 2024, the hospital is still not finished, with reports of numerous problems and delays. In 2019, it was announced that patients would finally be moving into the new facility, but it is unclear if this move ever took place. With a history of delays and issues, it is difficult to determine if the new Broughton Hospital is currently open.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Construction start date | January 2012 |
| Construction cost | $130 million |
| Completion date | Delayed six times, expected to be completed in late September 2019 |
| Problems | Foundation and insulation getting wet |
| Current status | Not opened yet |
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What You'll Learn
Broughton Hospital's new facility opened in 2019
Broughton Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located in Morganton, North Carolina, has been serving the western 37 counties of the state as part of the system of care and treatment for people with mental illness. In August 2019, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) dedicated a new building for Broughton Hospital, marking the end of a decade-long process to update and upgrade the state's psychiatric hospitals.
The new facility, with a total funding of approximately $130 million, was designed to consolidate the care and services provided in four separate buildings on the Broughton Hospital campus under one roof. The three-story building features a state-of-the-art laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, dental and radiology departments, courtyards, and a treatment mall. It offers enhanced privacy and dignity for patients with private and semi-private rooms, as well as a more collaborative work environment for staff.
The old Broughton psychiatric hospital had 297 beds and served as the receiving facility for about a third of North Carolina's population in the 37 western counties. The new building has the capacity to accommodate up to 382 beds, allowing for future expansion. The increased bed space addresses the need for more space that was recognized as early as 1884 by Dr. Patrick Livingston Murphy, the first director of the hospital.
The dedication ceremony in 2019 marked the beginning of a new era of acute mental healthcare for the residents of the 37 western counties. The new Broughton Hospital facility was designed by and for the people it serves, emphasizing the importance of holistic well-being in mental health care.
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Construction of the new hospital began in 2012
Construction of the new Broughton psychiatric hospital in Morganton, North Carolina, began in 2012. The $130 million project was intended to provide nearly 100 more beds for patients with acute mental health needs.
Legislators in Western North Carolina promised residents a brand new hospital in 2012, and construction began in January of that year. The project was contracted to Archer Western, with an expected completion time of around 2.5 years.
However, the project encountered numerous delays and setbacks. By 2017, the project was more than two years behind schedule due to construction mishaps and other issues. Records show that problems burdened the project from the start, including issues with the foundation and insulation getting wet.
Despite these delays, Broughton Hospital completed a new facility in 2017 that houses hospital departments and patient divisions under one roof on the existing grounds. The main building, dating back to the late 1800s, is preserved as a historical landmark and is used as office space.
In 2025, the new Broughton Hospital was still facing challenges, with expectations that the contractor would sue the state for additional funds. The state held a job fair in May 2025 to fill positions for the new hospital.
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The hospital has faced numerous problems and delays
Construction on the new Broughton Hospital began in January 2012 and was supposed to take around 2.5 years to complete. However, the project has faced numerous problems and delays. The completion date has been revised multiple times, with the hospital still not opened as of June 2025, over thirteen years after construction began.
One of the issues encountered was with the foundation and insulation getting wet. In February 2017, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notified Archer Western Contractors (AWC) of Charlotte, who had been working on the project since 2012, of their intent to list them in default of their contract. N.C. Rep. Hugh Blackwell commented on the delays, expressing his expectation that the contractor would sue the state for additional funds once the hospital was accepted.
The new Broughton Hospital is part of a long-awaited effort to update and upgrade the state's psychiatric hospitals. The state's job portal indicated that some positions remained open as of August 2019, and it was announced that patients would be moving to the new building in late September. The new facility will consolidate hospital departments and patient divisions under one roof, a departure from the outdated designs of psychiatric units.
The project has been described as a "costly mess," with concerns raised about its adequacy upon completion. The hospital's construction has taken longer than any other similar project in the state, including the Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro, which also experienced significant delays and opened three years behind schedule in 2016.
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The hospital's completion date has been revised six times
Construction on the new Broughton Hospital began in January 2012, with an expected completion time of around 2.5 years. However, as of June 2025, the hospital is yet to open, and the completion date has been revised six times.
The project has been plagued by problems, including issues with the foundation and insulation getting wet, leading to delays. In February 2017, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services notified Archer Western Contractors (AWC) of Charlotte of its intent to list them in default of their contract. Despite construction beginning in 2012, it was noted in 2024 that the project was way behind schedule.
In August 2019, officials announced that patients would be moving into the new facility in the coming weeks, but it appears this did not happen, as in June 2025, it was reported that the hospital would be turned over to the state in the following month. It was also noted that there were still positions to be filled, with the state holding a job fair to try to fill the required positions.
The new Broughton Hospital is part of a long-awaited upgrade to the state's psychiatric hospitals, with the Central Regional Hospital in Butner opening in 2008. The new Broughton facility is expected to house patients under one roof, moving away from the outdated designs of psychiatric units.
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The hospital is located in Morganton, North Carolina
Broughton Hospital, a psychiatric hospital, is located in Morganton, North Carolina. The hospital was established in 1875 when the state provided $75,000 for the establishment of a second psychiatric hospital in the state. The hospital, originally named the Western Carolina Insane Asylum, opened on March 29, 1883, on 283 acres of land.
Over time, the hospital expanded, adding new wings in 1885 and 1886, increasing its bed space to over 500 patients. Broughton Hospital continued to grow and change in the 1960s, with the establishment of educational programs and religious services, as well as further expansion through affiliated local community health centers. The focus during this period was on de-institutionalizing individuals with mental illnesses and providing treatment in local settings.
In 2012, construction began on a new $130 million Broughton Hospital facility, which was expected to take around 2.5 years to complete. However, the project encountered numerous delays and complications, including issues with the foundation and insulation. As of June 2025, the new Broughton Hospital is facing ongoing delays, with the completion date having been revised six times. The state is planning a job fair in May to fill positions for the new hospital, indicating that the opening date is approaching.
Morganton, North Carolina, is located in central Burke County in the Catawba River valley in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city has a rich history and is known for its textile and furniture industries, as well as its annual festivals, such as the Parish Food Festival and the Morganton Festival.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the new Broughton Hospital is not open yet. Construction on the $130 million hospital started in January 2012 and was expected to take 2.5 years to build. However, the completion date has been revised multiple times due to various problems and delays.
Although an exact date has not been announced, officials stated in August 2019 that patients would be moving into the new facility in the coming weeks.
The new Broughton Hospital facility will house hospital departments and patient divisions under one roof, moving away from the outdated designs of psychiatric units.
The construction of the new Broughton Hospital has faced significant delays due to various problems, including issues with the foundation and insulation getting wet. There have also been reports of contractual issues and expectations of legal disputes regarding the project.
The delays in completing the new Broughton Hospital have resulted in increased costs, with the project now estimated to cost $138 million. Additionally, there have been concerns raised about the adequacy of the facility once it opens.
