Children’s of Alabama (COA) faced a critical public health challenge: the escalating need for inpatient mental health care for adolescents. The existing unit was consistently at capacity, so many young patients faced long wait times in the Emergency Department. To address this, COA embarked on a crucial renovation, transforming a former outpatient clinic into an 11-bed Behavioral Health (BH) Unit. This project required specialized COA Behavioral Health Furniture.

BI joined the project to provide furniture that served two non-negotiable goals: supporting a calm, healing environment and ensuring the safety of patients and staff was the absolute top priority. We proudly collaborated with Poole Company (Architects and Engineers) and the COA Facilities and Design team.

The unit’s scope required specialized, high-security furniture across the 11 Patient Rooms, a Family/Consult Room, a Dining/Multipurpose Room, a Dayspace Activity Room, and Nurse/Provider Offices.

Our solution utilized specialized, high-security furniture. We sourced heavily-weighted, anti-ligature seating and tables. These provided the necessary safety assurance while allowing patients access to engaging and calming communal spaces. This included specialized seating designed specifically for behavioral health settings, along with secure game tables.

The unit received professional lounge seating, guest chairs, and therapeutic patient room furniture (beds, desks, chairs). We selected these pieces to provide comfort while adhering to stringent safety guidelines. We also ensured clinical staff (Nurse Stations and Provider Offices) had ergonomic task seating for their long shifts.

This renovation and furniture implementation allowed COA to operationalize the new 11-bed BH unit, which successfully opened in January 2025. By furnishing the facility with products that meet the highest standards of safety, Business Interiors helped create a safe, supportive setting for adolescent focused mental health care, ultimately reducing patient wait times across the state.

Photography by: Art Meripol

Children’s of Alabama (COA) houses the state’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The hospital faced the challenge of alleviating wait times for critical care. The project added six new private patient rooms. This increased the NICU’s total capacity from 48 to 54 bassinets. The goal was to ensure more families receive the specialized care they need.

Business Interiors proudly partnered with Poole & Company, working closely with the COA Facilities and Design team to deliver specialized furniture solutions that support clinical staff efficiency and reinforce the hospital’s commitment to family-centered care.

The scope of work focused intensely on creating a supportive environment for both caregivers and families across the six new units.

We provided specialized, sleep-friendly furniture for the patient rooms. This included highly durable Sleep Recliners and Sleep Sofas. These selections were essential. They ensured parents and guardians could remain comfortably bedside for continuous, extended periods. This directly supports COA’s mission to provide care in private, family-friendly rooms.

We also supplied high-performance furniture for the clinical teams. This encompassed ergonomic Task Seating for the central Nurse Stations. It also covered the six individual Nurse Alcoves located within each new patient room. This furniture supports the clinical staff’s long shifts, promoting focus and efficiency in the demanding care environment.

The successful implementation of these specialized solutions was critical. By furnishing the expansion with durable, cleanable, and supportive options, Business Interiors helped COA achieve its goal of expanding critical capacity. The project also enhanced the comfort and well-being of the families they serve. The expanded NICU area was successfully opened in January 2025, continuing to serve as a vital lifeline for Alabama’s youngest patients.

Photography by: Art Meripol