Boston Children’s Hospital is set to open a pioneering pediatric mental health hospital in Brighton, following a $100 million donation from philanthropists Robert and Karen Hale.
The facility will be located on the campus of Franciscan Children’s, acquired by Boston Children’s in 2023, and is scheduled to welcome patients in 2029. The hospital will offer comprehensive care for children and adolescents, combining inpatient and outpatient services while serving as a training center for future psychiatrists and psychologists.
The Hales’ donation will contribute to the $640 million project and secure naming rights for one of the campus buildings. Robert Hale, founder and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, highlighted the urgent need for advanced pediatric mental health care. “Boston Children’s leads the world in pediatric medicine, and their new mental health hospital is exactly what children need to get the care they deserve,” he said. The couple had previously donated $50 million to the hospital in 2018.
Designed to meet a wide range of needs, the hospital will house 116 inpatient beds, a day hospital with 24 slots for partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, and a 14-bedroom residential program offering short-term care. This residential program is intended to provide either an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or a bridge for children transitioning from hospital to home.
Beyond clinical services, the facility will include a dental suite, a surgical suite with four operating rooms, a pharmacy, an outpatient rehabilitation center featuring a gym and therapy pool, and five outdoor play areas. The hospital will also offer accommodations and amenities for parents and caregivers to remain close to their children during treatment.
Sustainability is a key focus of the project. Geothermal wells will heat and cool the building, while a rain garden will manage stormwater, filter pollutants, and reduce irrigation needs. Boston Children’s aims to create a bright, welcoming environment that supports healing for children and provides comfort for families.
This development comes amid a growing pediatric mental health crisis in the U.S. One in five children aged three to 17 has been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder, and more children now die from mental health conditions than from cancer. Boston Children’s calls the situation a “crisis” and sees the new mental health hospital as a critical step in addressing it.
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