MASON, Ohio — The Lindner Center of HOPE, a leading nonprofit mental health facility in Greater Cincinnati, has unveiled plans for a major $38 million expansion aimed at significantly increasing access to comprehensive behavioral health care.
Located at 4075 Old Western Row Road in Mason, the new four-story, 75,000-square-foot medical office building will support the center’s growing patient population by adding vital clinical space and enhancing treatment offerings. Construction is scheduled to begin in May, with completion targeted for fall 2026.
The expansion is being developed in partnership with the Paul Hemmer Company and designed by ATA Beilharz Architects. Once completed, the facility will house additional treatment rooms, clinician offices, wellness amenities, and expanded neuromodulation services—a medical therapy that uses electrical stimulation to treat depression and other mood disorders.
Michael Groat, president and CEO of the Lindner Center, emphasized the uniqueness of the center’s all-encompassing model of care. “You have inpatient care, residential care, partial hospitalization care, and outpatient care, all under one roof,” Groat said. “That’s a very unique offering.”
While the national trend in mental health care leans toward outpatient and partial hospitalization models, Groat stressed the importance of maintaining access to a full continuum of care.
Jennifer Pierson, a spokesperson for the center, highlighted the protective value of partial hospitalization, particularly for patients at risk after inpatient discharge.
“There’s a lot of evidence that after a hospitalization is the highest-risk time for suicide,” she said. “That partial hospital model is really very protective in keeping those individuals safe.”
Partial hospitalization not only supports individuals transitioning back to everyday life, but also serves those who prefer to remain at home while receiving intensive treatment—offering a less costly alternative to inpatient care.
The expansion is also a response to a sharp increase in demand for services. In the last three years, the Lindner Center’s clinical staff has nearly tripled, growing from approximately 30 to 90 medical professionals.
“We are out of space,” said Laura Nixon, the center’s chief financial and administrative officer. “We went from about 30 medical staff to close to 90.”
A New ‘Main Street’ and Wellness-Focused Design
Architect Rob Humason said a central highlight of the new building is the first-floor lobby, dubbed “Main Street,” which will connect the existing facility with the addition.
“We’ve pulled Main Street from that lobby all the way through the new addition,” Humason said, noting that the corridor will provide seamless access to key areas including a wellness space, an intake room, and a 300-person conference facility.
The design also embraces the building’s natural surroundings. Outdoor walking trails are being integrated into the landscape, giving staff the opportunity to decompress in a tranquil environment flanked by mature trees and open green space.
Project Financing and Timeline
To fund the $38 million project, the Lindner Center has launched a $30 million capital campaign and is seeking an additional $4 million in state funding from Ohio. The remaining balance will be covered through operational funds.
Initial site work will begin with the demolition of the existing administrative offices. Full construction is expected to conclude by late 2026.
The Lindner Center of HOPE currently serves over 50,000 outpatient visits annually—a figure expected to rise with the new expansion. Leaders say the project is a critical step in ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality, accessible care across a broad range of mental health needs.
