Sheltering Arms Institute Completes Expansion of Inpatient Physical Rehab Hospital

RICHMOND, Va. (January 6, 2026) — Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, has successfully completed a 30-bed expansion of its freestanding inpatient physical rehabilitation hospital, increasing capacity to 144 beds and five specialized care units, making Central Virginia home to one of the largest rehabilitation hospitals on the East Coast.

The facility, located at 2000 Wilkes Ridge Drive just west of Short Pump in West Creek, provides care for individuals who are recovering from a variety of illnesses or injuries, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and limb loss, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various diseases and disorders.

“In the five and a half years that we have been open, we have served approximately 13,000 patients from 28 states. This illustrates the substantial need for the specialized and high-quality physical rehabilitation services that our team provides,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “Our goal with this expansion is to further enhance access to this care that helps people achieve their most complete recovery and get back to living a life beyond limits.”

The 30 new patient rooms are located on the fourth floor of the hospital, which previously existed as shell space that was constructed as part of the 212,000-square-foot hospital in anticipation of future need. The new unit will also be used to provide rehabilitative care and will serve as the new home of the Institute’s spinal cord injury unit, the Dallas Disbro Ability Center.

The new unit features:

• All-private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, large picture windows, and flat-screen TVs appointed with the GetWell Network that empowers patients to direct their own rehabilitation care
• The MyLife Room assistive technology lab
• A satellite gym equipped with advanced rehab technology and an on-unit bodyweight-support system
• In-room Alexa voice assistive technology
• A community room for shared dining, educational and support groups, and more
• Conference and office spaces

The $25 million project was funded through a combination of bank financing and equity contributions from joint venture members Sheltering Arms and VCU Health. The Institute received approval from the Virginia Department of Health to expand in October 2023 following a certificate of public need (COPN) application process. Construction began in late 2024 and was completed under general contractor Barton Malow, architecture firm HDR, and project management and design firm JLL.

 

About Sheltering Arms Institute

Sheltering Arms Institute is a non-profit and donor-supported state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health through a joint venture. Ranked best in Virginia and among the nation’s top rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com.