Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Great Falls Campus
Training future physicians where Montana needs them most.
Montana has long struggled with limited access to physicians, and more than half of the state’s counties are classified as medically underserved. The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine saw an opportunity to help address that gap by opening Montana’s first nonprofit medical school in Great Falls. The new 100,000 sq. ft. campus includes state-of-the-art classrooms, simulation labs, collaboration areas, and outdoor balconies designed to support student well-being and learning.
Morrison-Maierle partnered with LPW Architecture to provide comprehensive civil and structural engineering services, including site planning, structural steel framing, stormwater design, surveying, and infrastructure extensions. Our team evaluated multiple structural system options to balance cost, schedule, and performance. The project converts a previously vacant area into a catalyst for new development, medical training, and community investment.
Highlights and Services
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Construction administration
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Healthcare design
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Subdividing parcels
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Site civil design
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Site survey
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Stormwater infrastructure
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Structural
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Water/sewer street infrastructure
Engineering for Collaboration and Learning
Designing a medical school means thinking beyond the building; it means anticipating how students learn, collaborate, and gather. Our structural team developed multiple options for the steel framing system, allowing the owner to select the best combination of budget, performance, and flexibility. The final design includes:
- Large-span steel transfer girders (50+ ft.) to support the main lecture hall without columns interrupting views or seating layouts.
- Exterior balconies provide outdoor study and gathering space without impacting the interior layout.
- Below-grade foundation adjustments to account for site elevation changes without impacting accessibility or program space.
These decisions enabled the design team to create a modern academic environment that supports future growth and adapts to evolving program needs.
Infrastructure That Builds a Campus — and a Community
Before construction began, the site had no supporting infrastructure. Morrison-Maierle’s Great Falls civil team handled everything necessary to make the campus possible and code-compliant, including site survey, grading, utilities, and stormwater management.
Highlights include:
- Water, sewer, and fire service extensions to support a facility of this scale.
- Stormwater treatment design based on Great Falls’ clay soils, which limit infiltration and require careful routing and detention.
- Retaining wall design along the property line to maintain grade elevations and protect critical back-of-house equipment such as generators and electrical gear.
- Parking and pedestrian circulation layout that improves access and prepares the site for future growth.
Because our team lives and works in Great Falls, we were able to anticipate local challenges—from soil conditions to municipal requirements—and address them early. This local knowledge helped streamline reviews and keep construction moving.
The Result
The project opened in 2023 and will eventually host up to 500 medical students. Beyond the academics, the school is already influencing Great Falls in measurable ways:
- More healthcare providers trained in-state means students are more likely to stay and practice in Montana.
- New local jobs for faculty, staff, and support roles.
- Catalyst for development—the school has already sparked new housing and future plans for MSU’s nursing school nearby.
By combining multidisciplinary engineering, previous experience with the project team, and on-the-ground local knowledge, Morrison-Maierle helped turn a vacant site into an anchor that will serve Montana residents for decades.
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