Pictured, from left: John Irrgang, Mayor of Batesville; George Junker, MMH Board of Directors Chair; Liz Leising, MMH President and CEO; Jean Leising, Indiana State Senator; and Jonathon Maple, MMH Foundation Executive Director
On Thursday, November 21, Margaret Mary Health held a topping out ceremony to celebrate construction achievements of its new hospital and acknowledge the hard work of those involved. Held at the construction site, the ceremony was celebrated with a small gathering of MMH and Foundation board members, construction partners, community leaders, state officials and hospital administration.
“This is a very exciting and momentous day for Margaret Mary Health,” said Liz Leising, MMH President and CEO. “This new future building is a true vision that was born over 20 years ago and has been very carefully, very intentionally and very strategically nurtured and developed over the last decade.”
A longstanding construction site tradition, the topping out ceremony commemorates a major milestone where a steel beam is hoisted into the structural framework of the new hospital. Over the past month, the beam was transported to MMH’s various locations where team members had the opportunity to add their signatures. While inclement weather interfered with the raising of the beam, attendees still gathered to share excitement over the construction project.
“When you’re in construction, a beam signing is cool because it represents progress,” said Jim Lupidi, vice president of Danis Construction, “but more importantly, the signed beam represents collaboration. It’s a reminder of the thousands of people who have contributed towards the project. All the names on the beam are just a fraction of those who have contributed, and for that, we are thankful.”
Located on State Route 229 just north of the I-74 Batesville interchange, MMH’s new replacement hospital is designed to improve the patient experience, draw new healthcare professionals to the community and serve as an anchor for an expanded health and wellness campus. The 125,000-square-foot facility is set to open in 2026.
