Franciscan Health and Beacon Health System will break ground on the $21.6 million Franciscan Beacon Hospital at 9 a.m. CST (10 a.m. EST) Nov. 9 at the Beacon Medical Group building at 900 I St., LaPorte. The hospital is scheduled to open in early 2020. Franciscan Beacon Hospital will comprise 27,803 square feet of new construction and include a 19,086 square foot renovation of the current Beacon Medical Group building. The hospital will feature a full-service, 10-bed emergency department, eight inpatient beds, laboratory services and telehealth connectivity, as well as state of the art imaging and diagnostic equipment. Franciscan Health and Beacon Health hospital leaders and community leaders will speak at the groundbreaking. The Rev. William O’Toole, Franciscan Health Michigan City director of pastoral care, and Rev. Sarah Samson, spiritual care coordinator, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, will preside over the groundblessing ceremony. Tonn & Blank Construction of Michigan City will serve as construction manager and contractor for the project. Parking for the event is available adjacent to the building entrance.