Construction, which began in October 2002, is expected to be completed in February 2005. When completed, it will centralize the hospital's 128 cardiac beds and contain space for future growth, hospital officials say. MA Mortenson is the general contractor on the construction.

Kenneth and Judy Dayton gave the project $3.2 million while the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation contributed $3 million. The Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation has raised $28 million of its $51 million goal for the heart hospital.

Kenneth Dayton, the former chairman of the Minneapolis-based Dayton Hudson Corp. (now called Target Corp.), died in July at 80 years old. Eloise Pohlad, whose husband owns the Minnesota Twins, died in November at 86 years old. Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health-care services.