Montgomery County · West Norriton · MCPC #24-0175-001
Southeast Psychiatric Treatment Center at Norristown
1001 Sterigere St, West Norriton, PA · 651,000 sq ft non-residential, institutional · 65.77 acres
About this project
The Southeast Psychiatric Treatment Center at Norristown, a state-run mental health and forensic psychiatric facility at 1001 Sterigere Street in West Norriton, would be demolished and rebuilt as a larger campus on its 65.77-acre site. The work would happen in two phases, adding about 651,000 square feet and 420 beds for the same types of care that are provided there now.
County planning commission: Supports, with comments
Issues raised: Eastbound left turns into relocated main entrance cause congestion; discuss left turn lane, Westbound left-turn striping at Forrest Avenue and West Sterigere Street has degraded and needs repainting, Internal roads should accommodate large vehicles such as SEPTA buses, Future transit service should be considered given employee and visitor numbers
- Zoning
- R-A
- Demolition
- Existing structures on the site are demolished as part of the redevelopment
Filing history
- 2024-08-06 · MCPC #24-0175-001 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan, Conditional Use · 651,000 sq ft
County review letters
2024-08-06 · WNORR 24-0175-001r.pdf
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
The state Department of Human Services plans to replace aging forensic psychiatric buildings on the Norristown State Hospital campus with a new Southeast Psychiatric Treatment Center. County records describe a demolish-and-rebuild project on a 65.77-acre site. It would add about 651,000 square feet and 420 beds in two phases, for the same kinds of mental health and forensic care provided there now.
Public design news says the first phase would be about 270 single-occupant beds, with room to grow to 420 later. It would replace buildings from the 1940s and 1960s. The existing hospital is expected to keep running until the new one is ready.
A funding listing from 2026 said the construction bidding process was on hold under a court order. This was not independently confirmed.
What it could mean nearby
- The site is an existing state hospital campus, so the use is not new to the area.
- A project of this size would bring a long construction period, with truck and worker traffic on and around Sterigere Street.
- The facility would replace existing beds and add capacity, so it would continue to employ staff on site.
Where it stands
Design is under way, and the county's latest filing is dated August 2024. A funding listing in 2026 said bidding for construction was paused by a court order. Next steps usually include resolving that hold, awarding a construction contract, and completing the remaining local and state reviews before building starts.
- Apr 2026 A funding listing reported the construction procurement was stayed by a Commonwealth Court order.
- Aug 6, 2024 Latest county planning filing.
- Jul 2024 Stantec and architecture+ announced as the design team.
Want to weigh in? No specific hearing was found; residents can contact the Department of Human Services or the West Norriton Township supervisors, and watch township meeting agendas for any local reviews.
Who's behind it
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services · The state agency that runs Pennsylvania's state hospitals, including Norristown State Hospital; Stantec and architecture+ are the design firms.
Around the web
- New forensic psychiatric facility at Southeast Psychiatric Treatment Center being designed by StantecStantec · Jul 1, 2024Announces the design team and describes the new forensic facility.
- Stantec, Architecture+ To Design Replacement Forensic Psychiatric Hospital At Norristown State HospitalHealthcare Design MagazineReports a 270-bed first phase replacing two older inpatient buildings.
- Plans proceed for new forensic facility at Norristown StatePatchLocal coverage of the plan to build the new forensic facility.
- Southeast Psychiatric Treatment Center At NorristownFunding Landscape · Apr 1, 2026Says the construction procurement was stayed by a court order.
Planning terms explained
- Forensic psychiatric
- Mental health care for people involved with the criminal justice system, such as those sent for treatment by a court.
- Phase
- One stage of a project built in steps, with later stages following the first.
- Procurement
- The government's formal process of seeking bids and choosing a contractor.
- Stay
- A court order that pauses a process until the court says otherwise.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $227.8M
- ~3,255 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~1,627 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
- ~65.8 acres of site work (grading, stormwater, landscaping)
- Two-phase construction of new hospital buildings
- Demolition and replacement of existing campus structures
- Large surface parking lots
- Landscaping and buffering areas
- Stormwater management features
- Relocated main entrance aligned with West Sterigere Street and Montgomery Avenue, plus road striping repairs
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