Children’s of Alabama completes 50-bed pediatric ICU expansion

Children’s of Alabama’s Benjamin Russell Hospital now has 50 new intensive care patient rooms thanks to a project constructed by Hoar Construction that completed in February.

When Children’s first opened in 2012, a 12th floor was built as shell space and designated for future expansion. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) project broke ground in August 2024. Children’s remained fully operational during the project.

“Throughout this project, keeping patients, families and hospital staff safe remained our highest priority. Our team approached every phase of the build with that responsibility in mind, ensuring the hospital could continue delivering exceptional care without interruption.”

Andrew Bray, superintendent on the project at Hoar

The new unit combines the PICU and Special Care Units into a single critical care space, according to Children’s, providing flexibility for both high- and low-acuity patients.

“This new unit addresses the increasing demand for pediatric critical care, particularly for children with complex medical needs. It features leading-edge design and technology that will support more efficient care, improved communication and a healing environment for patients and their families.”

Tom Shufflebarger, President and CEO of Children’s of Alabama

Other project partners include architect firm Poole & Company, BBG&S Engineering Consultants and SSOE Group. 

Hoar has been a healthcare builder for several other regional projects, including:

• A $4.5 million cardiovascular unit at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster
• The 346,000-square-foot UAB Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility in Birmingham
• A 144,000-square-foot U.S. Veterans Affairs mental health clinic in Temple Terrace, Florida

Doubling the PICU’s impact

The new PICU was made possible through support from the community, Children’s said, including a $3 million gift from Quarterbacking Children’s Health Foundation.

The project was originally set to be 24 beds, but a $455,000 donation from Norfolk Southern in November 2025 was able to more-than-double the capacity.

“By going from 24 up to 50 (beds) — and thank God, we don’t think we’ll need 50 usually — we hopefully will never have to turn that child away again.”

Dr. Nancy Tofil, medical director of the Pediatric Simulation Center + senior associate pediatric program director, November 2025

When hospitals’ ICUs are full, they go “on diversion,” meaning they are unable to accept new patients from ambulances due to a lack of beds or available staff. 

Other hospitals that specialize in pediatric care like Emory and Vanderbilt generally go on diversion much quicker than Children’s, according to Dr. Tofil. That means in the rare event that Children’s is at capacity, there is another patient who can’t get to Birmingham for treatment.

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