Austin State Hospital Brain Health Campus Plan

, Texas Health and Human Services / The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX

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In early 2014, as part of a comprehensive, multi-site master services agreement with Texas Facilities Commission (TFC), Page authored a Preliminary Master Plan that described a concept to replace the Austin State Hospital (ASH) and commercially develop portions of the hospital campus. The master services agreement also included master planning for Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) administrative offices, Camp Mabry and the Texas Capital District.

The preliminary plan for the ASH campus had two primary attributes. The first was to consolidate all services provided at the hospital into a new, modern facility. The second was to allocate approximately 57 of the total 97 acre ASH campus to a mixed-use, commercially developed property. The primary purpose of the commercial development was to provide HHSC with operational income for the new hospital.

In order to develop the concept, the planning team Page partnered with architecture+ with Francis (Frank) Murdock Pitts, had to create a preliminary space need assessment for the new hospital and in so doing met several times with HHSC leadership, ASH clinicians and administrators and TFC leadership. The new facility is to include 240 inpatient beds for forensics, acute care, long-term acute, geriatric and juvenile/adolescents, along with support services, administration, and collaborative care continuum buildings.

One of the most significant elements of the concept was an implementation and phasing plan. The entire commercial development and new hospital would need to be built while maintaining operations in the existing hospital facilities during the construction process. Further, the plan also provided an incremental development plan that would coincide with actual market demand for housing, retail and commercial space.

The new master plan will strive to address the entire care continuum with acute inpatient and crisis care services, in addition, focusing on education, academic alignment, research and implementation, supportive housing, long-term memory and IDD care, outpatient services, and public engagement. Breaking down the stigma of brain health within the surrounding communities.

Building Facts

  • 97 Acre ASH Campus
  • 240 Inpatient Beds
  • Long-term Memory and IDD Care
  • Outpatient Services
  • Supportive Housing