The Texas Legislature has invested $745 million for a first round of construction and renovation of hospitals in Austin, Kerrville, Rusk and San Antonio, and a new hospital in Houston. HHSC will seek additional funding in the 2021 Legislature to complete these projects. HHSC is also spending $7.2 million to replace the administration building in Rusk.
HHSC’s Health and Specialty Care System is working with medical schools across Texas to design these hospitals and with community providers and resources to ensure continuity of care. We are building partnerships that will join cutting-edge research with operational expertise to create a more effective healing environment.
These projects are a part of the Health and Specialty Care System’s transformation of inpatient psychiatric care in Texas. They are founded on three bedrock principles: Systems-based continuum of care, unparalleled care and easy access.
Systems-Based Continuum of Care
- State hospitals provide inpatient psychiatric care for adults, adolescents and children and are important for people requiring psychiatric services.
- Inpatient care at the state hospitals should not be the first line of treatment for a person. Texans need access to the full array of mental health services. State hospitals are a critical component of that system.
Unparalleled Care
- The planned renovations and new buildings will incorporate the latest design elements, complementing cutting-edge services.
- The design of behavioral health facilities can affect treatment and care. These projects’ modern design will match the state-of-the-art care provided within them.
Easy Access
- People are better served when services are available close to home. Working alongside community partners to develop an array of services that support people’s need as close to their homes as possible is a top priority.
- By incorporating technology to bridge geographic gaps in areas where psychiatric staff are difficult to recruit, our plan allows us to provide services in locations that lack sufficient inpatient psychiatric treatment.
State Hospital Comprehensive Plan
HHSC worked with stakeholders to develop a Comprehensive Plan for the State Hospitals (PDF).
State Hospital Construction Projects
Austin State Hospital
Summary
HHSC is working with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin to design and build a 240-bed hospital to replace the current one on campus.
Capacity Added: This project will replace existing beds.
Status
8 percent completed.
Cost
- Phase I -- $15.5 million in planning and pre-planning approved by 2017 Legislature.
- Phase II -- $165 million for construction approved by 2019 Legislature.
- Phase III -- $124.1 million for construction (estimate). HHSC is seeking this money in the 2021 legislative session.
- Total -- $304.6 million
Schedule
- Opens June 2023.
Photos and Virtual Tours
- Jan. 24 Open House Presentation (PDF)
- Click here for a 3D virtual tour.
- View a map of the construction areas on campus (PDF).
- View construction photos from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.
Artist’s rendering of Austin State Hospital.
The new warehouse at Austin State Hospital will serve both the hospital and Austin State Supported Living Center. Photo from September 2020.
Rusk State Hospital
Summary
Rusk State Hospital is building a new maximum-security unit with 100 beds and a new non-maximum-security unit with 100 beds. Rusk is also replacing the administration building.
Capacity added: These units will replace existing beds with an increase of 60 maximum-security beds.
Cost
Maximum security unit
- $94.3 million for planning and construction approved by 2017 Legislature.
Non-maximum-security unit
- $94.6 million approved by the 2017 and 2019 Legislatures.
Administration building
- $7.2 million
Status
- New Patient Units are 1 percent completed.
- Administration building is 30 percent completed.
Schedule
- New units open February 2023.
- Administration building opens November 2021.
Artist’s rendering of Rusk State Hospital.
Construction crews at Rusk State Hospital begin at sunup in this photo from September 2020.
Kerrville State Hospital
Summary
Kerrville State Hospital is planning to renovate existing campus buildings and add 70-maximum security unit beds.
Capacity added: 70 new MSU beds
Cost
- $30.5 million for design and renovation
Status
7 percent completed.
Schedule
- Opens November 2021.
Artist’s rendering of Kerrville State Hospital.
The new units at Kerrville State Hospital are taking shape in this photo from September 2020.
UTHealth Houston Continuum of Care Campus
Summary
HHSC and UTHealth Houston are working together to build, design and operate a 240-bed psychiatric hospital in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. The hospital will serve patients with short-term commitments.
Capacity added: 240 beds
Cost
- $126.5 million
Status
50 percent complete.
Schedule
- Opens February 2022.
Artist’s rendering of the UTHealth Houston Continuum of Care Campus in the Texas Medical Center.
The new hospital is a joint project between the Health and Human Services Commissioner and the UTHealth Houston. Photo from January 2020.
When completed, the new hospital will have 240 beds. Photo from January 2020.
The new hospital is 50 percent completed in this photo from September 2020.
San Antonio State Hospital
Summary
HHSC is building a 300-bed hospital to replace the current facility at San Antonio State Hospital and renovating another building to add 40 new beds on campus.
New Hospital Project
Capacity Added: The new hospital will replace existing beds.
Cost
- Phase I -- $14.5 million for planning and pre-planning approved by 2017 Legislature
- Phase II -- $190.3 million for construction approved by 2019 Legislature.
- Phase III – $152.4 million (estimate). HHSC is seeking this money from the 2021 Legislature.
Status
Replacement Hospital is 5 percent completed.
Schedule
- Construction starts Summer 2020.
- Opens January 2024.
Hospital Renovation
Capacity added: 40 beds
Cost
- Phase I -- $11.5 million for planning and construction approved by 2017 Legislature.
Status
Renovation is 66 percent completed.
Schedule
- Opens January 2021.
Artist’s rendering of the new hospital project at San Antonio State Hospital.
This photo from May 2020 shows the site of the 300-bed replacement hospital in San Antonio.
This photo from August 2020 shows the work at the ground level on the site of the replacement hospital in San Antonio.
When the renovation is completed, it will add 40 beds to the San Antonio State Hospital. This photo from September 2020 shows it's two-thirds of the way to completion.