You’ve probably seen the cranes. If you live anywhere near the Cliff Avenue area or have driven through central Sioux Falls lately, the skyline looks a bit like a giant construction puzzle. That massive skeleton of steel isn't just another office building. It is the future of Avera McKennan Sioux Falls, and honestly, it’s about time someone explained what’s actually happening behind those detour signs.
Most folks think of a hospital as a place you go when things go south. A "fix-it" shop for the body. But Avera McKennan has turned into something much weirder and more impressive than a simple local hospital. It's a 72,000-square-mile anchor. Think about that. That is a footprint larger than some entire countries.
The Massive 2026 Shift You Haven't Heard About
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, the campus is in the middle of its biggest identity shift since it opened in 1911. Everyone talks about "the new tower," but the real story is the specialization.
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Earlier this month, on January 8, 2026, Avera officially opened Pavilion 2 over on the Louise Health Campus. This is a huge deal because it essentially pulled the entire gastroenterology (GI) department out of the main hospital. Why? To make room for orthopedics. If you've ever tried to navigate the old specialty hospital for a knee replacement, you know it was getting tight. By moving GI to its own three-story home, Avera just doubled their capacity for things like colonoscopies and endoscopies.
Basically, they are de-cluttering the main campus so it can focus on the heavy hitters: trauma, cancer, and the impending 2027 Women’s and Children’s center.
Why the "McKennan" Name Actually Matters
It’s not just a brand. Helen Gale McKennan was a visionary who willed $25,000 back in 1906 to start this whole thing. That doesn't sound like much now, but back then, it was a fortune. She wanted a place that served "humanity," and that vibe still lingers in the hallways.
You see it in the Arts in Healing program. Most hospitals have sterile white walls that make you feel like you’re in a lab. Avera McKennan has an indoor "SculptureWalk." They literally extended the downtown Sioux Falls art vibe into the hospital. It sounds kinda "woo-woo," but when you’re sitting there waiting for a loved one to come out of surgery, seeing a beautiful bronze statue instead of a "Wash Your Hands" sign actually helps the blood pressure.
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Breaking Down the New Six-Story Tower
The big "tomorrow" everyone is waiting for is the 2027 completion of the main hospital expansion. This is a $245 million bet on the growth of South Dakota.
- The New Front Door: For years, finding the "main" entrance felt like a scavenger hunt. The new tower will create a massive, welcoming lobby.
- 158 New Beds: This isn't just about luxury rooms. It’s about the fact that Sioux Falls is growing by 2.5% every single year. We are running out of space.
- The NICU Evolution: Avera is a Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The new tower is going to centralize pediatric intensive care and labor and delivery, making it a "hospital within a hospital."
Is "Hospital@Home" the End of the Bedside Visit?
One of the coolest things happening at Avera McKennan Sioux Falls right now is something you can't even see on campus. It’s called Hospital@Home.
I talked to some people who were skeptical at first. "Wait, you’re sending me home while I still need hospital care?"
Exactly.
For things like pneumonia or heart failure, Avera is now treating people in their own spare bedrooms. They send a nurse practitioner and a nurse to your house every single day. You get a tablet for 24/7 video access to a hospitalist. They even deliver hospital meals to your door.
The data from late 2025 shows that people are actually recovering faster at home. They sleep better in their own beds. They aren't getting those "hospital-acquired" infections. Plus, you can wear your own pajamas. Honestly, that's a win for everyone.
The Cancer Care Nuance
We can't talk about McKennan without mentioning the Prairie Center. It’s the regional hub for the Avera Cancer Institute. They have the only blood and marrow transplant program in a five-state area.
They’re doing stuff now with photo-illumination and immunotherapy that feels like science fiction. But here’s the limitation: it’s expensive and intensive. That’s why the Avera Foundation is constantly fundraising. They just raised nearly $60 million in 2025 alone to keep these programs accessible.
Common Misconceptions About Avera McKennan
People often confuse Avera and Sanford. It's the Great Sioux Falls Rivalry.
While both are world-class, Avera is a non-profit health ministry rooted in the mission of the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters. That "ministry" part isn't just for show. It dictates how they handle charity care and community health assessments.
Another myth? That they only serve Sioux Falls.
Wrong.
They just signed a "Partner in Health" agreement with Hawarden Regional Healthcare in Iowa on January 1, 2026. They are the "tertiary" center for dozens of small-town hospitals. When a clinic in rural North Dakota or a hospital in Yankton hits a wall with a complex case, they fly the patient to the Cliff Avenue helipad.
Actionable Steps for Patients and Families
If you’re heading to Avera McKennan anytime soon, don't just wing it.
- Check the Detours: Construction is constant through 2026. Check the Avera website or their social media before you leave. The main entrance route changes almost monthly.
- Use the Price Estimator: Avera has become surprisingly transparent with their "Get an Estimate" tool. Use it. It’s not perfect, but it beats a surprise bill.
- Download the Chart App: If you aren't using the AveraChart app to message your doctors, you’re wasting time on hold.
- Visit the Innerpath Store: If you’re at the Prairie Center, this shop is a hidden gem for integrative medicine stuff like aromatherapy or specific supplements that are actually vetted by doctors.
The landscape of Avera McKennan Sioux Falls is shifting fast. By the time that new tower opens in early 2027, the way we think about "going to the hospital" will be completely different. It's becoming less of a building and more of a network that somehow manages to feel local while acting global.
Stay updated on the construction progress or look into the Tomorrow's Promise campaign if you want to see exactly where those millions of dollars are going. If you're planning a visit, keep an eye on the Cliff Avenue entrance updates—they change faster than the South Dakota weather.
Next Steps for Your Health Journey
- Review the Latest Maps: Check the Avera McKennan website for the January 2026 construction detour updates to avoid getting stuck in traffic near the new tower site.
- Explore Hospital@Home Eligibility: If you have an upcoming procedure or a chronic condition, ask your primary provider if you qualify for the at-home acute care program to avoid an extended hospital stay.
- Schedule a Screening: Use the new capacity at the Avera on Louise Pavilion 2 to book GI screenings, which currently have shorter wait times due to the expanded facility.