Ground has broken on the Terrell State Hospital building, a 275-bed, $573m psychiatric unit that will replace a similar facility that dates back to 1885.
Funded by the Texas Legislature and state government, the 415,000 sq ft hospital will contain 175 non-maximum-security, 50 maximum-security and 50 adolescent beds.
Single-person rooms are designed to balance privacy and security for patients, who will be able to access common activity areas and outdoor courtyards, encouraging interaction.
Adult and adolescent patients will have separate living areas and the building will house state-of-the-art therapeutic spaces for evidence-based treatment.
It is being built by Alabama contractor Robins & Morton and was designed by New York’s CannonDesign.
Cecile Erwin Young, Texas’ health and human services commissioner, said: “When completed, this hospital will offer hope, healing and recovery for some of the most vulnerable people in north Texas.”
Greg Abbott, Texas’ governor, said: “Since 2017, Texas has provided more than $2.5bn to build, renovate, and improve our state hospitals to ensure that Texans in every corner of our state have access to the quality inpatient psychiatric care they deserve.”
The project is due to be completed in 2027.
