University of Michigan Health-Sparrow breaks ground on new behavioral health hospital in Lansing

UM Health-Sparrow recently broke ground on a new 64-bed behavioral health facility on its Lansing campus, marking the next step in the system’s broader effort to respond to a significant need for comprehensive behavioral health care in the region. UM Health-Sparrow will partner with Sheppard Pratt — the nation’s largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, and related services — to provide inpatient and outpatient care for patients of all ages. The estimated completion is in late 2028. 

The new hospital represents a meaningful shift from UM Health-Sparrow’s St. Lawrence facility, where providers have continued to deliver high-quality care despite major limitations in the aging building. By relocating behavioral health services back to the system’s main medical campus and adding services for adolescents, UM Health-Sparrow is creating a stronger, more connected care network to meet today’s needs while allowing room for future growth. 

UM Health-Sparrow and the design team were aligned on the goal to create an experience that feels calm, light, bright and welcoming from the moment someone enters the building. Outdoor courtyards, including a dedicated adolescent courtyard, support movement, play and connection to nature, while enclosed porch areas for each inpatient unit provide access to fresh air. 

The hospital will also make it easier for patients to access specialized treatments not currently available at the existing facility, including electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine infusion. Additionally, it will support new onsite, outpatient day programs to provide intensive treatment options for patients who do not require inpatient care, broadening the continuum of care beyond traditional services.

This project reflects a fully integrated effort spanning architecture, interiors, engineering, signage, landscaping, environmental graphics, sustainability and medical equipment planning by CannonDesign. Our integrated team — including Hobbs + Black as associate architect — leveraged a national behavioral health knowledge base and close relationships within the behavioral health design industry to create a more restorative patient experience.

This project is a critical piece of UM Health-Sparrow’s vision to invest in a future-ready hospital designed to reduce stigma and offer a more compassionate experience for behavioral health patients and families across Lansing.