The Children's Institute yesterday unveiled new outdoor signs to kick off a $16 million expansion of the Squirrel Hill facility, which provides inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, an adoption agency and day school programs for children and youths with special needs.

In May, the institute purchased the building from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for $9 million, said Maureen Mahoney, director of development and marketing.

The expansion will create new inpatient beds, additional classrooms, autism programs, respite services and possibly hospice care. The work will take about 36 months.

"We have to phase it over time because we're continuing to provide services while we're doing the construction," Mahoney said.