Austin State Hospital Brain Health Campus and Hospital Replacement
The new Austin State Hospital Replacement is a key milestone in the master plan Page created to transform the campus into a leading-edge Brain Health System. This single, consolidated facility replaces eight separate buildings, bringing 240 private patient beds under one roof to improve efficiency, dignity, and care quality.
Designed with research-backed strategies, the hospital provides a therapeutic and safe environment that supports recovery while reducing stress for both patients and staff. Thoughtful site planning preserves historic structures and mature trees while ensuring a seamless transition for relocated services and utilities.
As the first flagship building in the long-term vision, this facility lays the foundation for future expansions, including strategic partnerships that enhance the continuum of care. This facility is a transformative step toward a more integrated, stigma-free model of mental healthcare in Austin.
Awards
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2020 SARA National Design Award in Excellence
Campus plan
A phased implementation strategy ensured uninterrupted hospital operations while allowing for incremental commercial development aligned with market demand. The campus plan established a framework for a comprehensive brain health continuum, integrating inpatient and crisis care, research, education, supportive housing, outpatient services, and public engagement to create a holistic approach to mental health.
By balancing operational continuity, strategic growth, and human-centered design, the Austin State Hospital Brain Health Campus Plan lays the foundation for a sustainable, innovative future in brain health care. This vision takes shape in the Austin State Hospital Replacement—a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the principles of therapeutic design, operational efficiency, and community integration.
Care continuum
The hospital follows a House-Neighborhood-Downtown model, creating smaller, cluster-based inpatient settings within larger units. In this approach, the “house” refers to the inpatient bed, the “neighborhood” consists of 24 inpatient beds, and the “downtown” includes shared services and amenities for all units in the facility.
The hospital offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
Inpatient forensic and civil beds, long-term memory care and IDD care, outpatient services, and supportive housing.
Research-informed design
By shaping environments that soothe, uplift, and foster connection, the Austin State Hospital sets a new standard for mental healthcare, demonstrating the transformative power of human-centered design.
A 2018 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology highlights how thoughtful design profoundly impacts well-being, emphasizing stress reduction through private rooms, low social density, sound control, and personal environmental adjustments. Healing is further enhanced by natural light, art, and outdoor connections, while strategically designed communal spaces promote safety, comfort, and social engagement.
The Austin State Hospital embodies these evidence-based design principles, earning local and national awards for its innovative approach. The hospital integrates features proven to enhance patient outcomes, promote recovery, and improve staff and patient satisfaction. These include abundant daylight, courtyard access, circadian lighting, thermal and acoustic comfort, biophilic elements, and multi-sensory restorative spaces. Thoughtfully designed layouts and open nursing stations improve visibility and safety, while ligature-resistant materials, decompression amenities, exercise spaces, and nutrition programs further support healing and well-being.
Innovative trauma-informed design
The Austin State Hospital prioritizes a trauma-informed environment, using muted lighting, soft acoustics, and clear sightlines to support recovery. Intuitive layouts foster security and autonomy, creating a space that respects hypersensitivity and promotes healing. By embedding empathy into the design, ASH enhances engagement, well-being, and the path to recovery.
Healing with community spaces
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Setting a new standard in psychiatric care
ASH honors the 164-year legacy of Texas’ oldest psychiatric hospital while reimagining mental health care through a trauma-informed, forward-thinking lens. The ASH Brain Health Campus sets a new standard in psychiatric care—purposeful, innovative, and deeply human—reshaping the future of mental health treatment with empathy and excellence.
“One of the key things about this facility...is the amount of light. …It’s almost a symbol of the difference that we’re making in people’s lives because of the light that we're now going to bring into their lives.”Kirk WatsonMayor of Austin
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