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N.H. Settles for $9.9 Million to Restart Secure Psychiatric Unit After Design Error

The agreement prioritizes a rapid micropile remedy over prolonged litigation, leaving some costs to the state.

The settlement will allow work to resume on the new secure psychiatric unit at the state hospital complex in Concord, but executive councilors are upset that the settlement doesn't fully cover the costs being incurred by the state.

Overview

  • Work halted for months after a deep foundation design error will restart on the current site using a micropile fix.
  • Design firm SMRT will pay the state $9.9 million without admitting wrongdoing, and the settlement assigns no responsibility.
  • Officials estimate up to $5 million in additional delay-related expenses that taxpayers may need to cover.
  • The new completion target is October 2027, putting the 24-bed forensic facility roughly a year behind schedule.
  • Executive councilors criticized the limited recovery, while the attorney general argued a lawsuit could have added years of delay.