Children’s of Alabama will soon commence a $55 million expansion.

The State Health Planning and Development Agency has approved the hospital’s Certificate of Need (CON) for renovations to its behavioral health and critical care facilities and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Children’s licensed bed capacity will remain at 332. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026.

According to the hospital, the project involves building out the 12th floor of the Benjamin Russell building to serve as a 50-bed unit for critical care patients. That space is currently shelled space.

For behavioral health patients, the hospital will renovate the fifth floor of the McWane building, putting 11 beds into operation for the unit. Six bassinets will be added to the NICU.

CEO and president Tom Shufflebarger said the expansion “will provide room to serve more patients who need critical care, behavioral health services and the NICU.”