Atrium plans $340M Charlotte behavioral health expansion

Atrium Health will invest $340 million over five years to expand behavioral health services across the Charlotte region, including a new hospital in University City near Mallard Creek. The facility, created by renovating an existing building, is targeted to open in 2028 with 168 inpatient beds for children and adults, day-treatment capacity equivalent to about 40 more beds, and expanded emergency, crisis, outpatient and specialized treatment services. The system says the renovation could bring services online 12 to 18 months sooner than new construction, as North Carolina faces a shortage of behavioral health beds and demand rises with Charlotte’s growth. The broader investment also includes workforce development and community-based care, while existing Atrium behavioral health facilities in Davidson and Charlotte will continue operating.