WatsonBruhn Builders has begun construction on the $25 million Longleaf Lodge recovery campus in Shelby County, a 60-bed behavioral health facility that developers say will become the county’s first inpatient treatment center for substance use disorders.
The $25 million campus, developed by Longleaf Recovery & Wellness, is being built on a 150-acre site near Sterrett, about 45 minutes southeast of Birmingham. Site work is underway, with vertical construction expected to begin in July and completion scheduled for mid-2027.
When finished, Longleaf Lodge will offer 50 residential treatment beds and 10 detox beds. The facility will provide medically supervised detoxification services and residential treatment in one location, making it one of the few facilities of its kind in Alabama.
The campus will combine medically supervised detoxification and residential treatment services in a single location, allowing patients to move through different stages of care without leaving the facility.
Longleaf Lodge will use a dual-diagnosis treatment model, allowing patients to receive treatment for substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions at the same time. Behavioral health leaders have described that integrated approach as an important step toward expanding access to inpatient care in Alabama.
“We are very excited to be the General Contractor for Longleaf Lodge. This project and this facility will help many families from Alabama and throughout the southeast. Alabamians will find care that, for too long, many have had to leave the state to receive,” said Mitch Bruhn, President of WatsonBruhn Builders.
Longleaf Recovery & Wellness was founded in 2021 and currently operates outpatient treatment centers in Birmingham, Huntsville and Baldwin County.
The organization takes its name from the longleaf pine, a tree native to the Southeast known for its ability to recover after fire. Longleaf Recovery & Wellness says the tree’s resilience reflects its mission of helping individuals and families build lasting recovery, growth and strength.
Project leaders say the facility is expected to serve patients from Alabama and neighboring Southeastern states.
The project team includes Goodwyn Mills Cawood as architect, LEMOINE as program manager and WatsonBruhn Builders as general contractor. Financing is being provided by River Bank & Trust.
WatsonBruhn Builders, based in Birmingham, specializes in healthcare, commercial, light industrial and institutional construction projects throughout Alabama and the Southeast. The company is celebrating its 15th year in business in 2026.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
