The Austin State Hospital is a 374,000 SF replacement inpatient psychiatric hospital with 240 adult beds, which is currently under construction. The Campus Master Plan was developed in 2018, followed immediately by the development of the hospital replacement design and construction. The 95-acre historic campus is in the center of Austin, with vibrant residential neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and busy streets on all sides. 

During this tour, the design and construction team will discuss specific constraints and opportunities of the site and facility design. This is a unique brain health facility designed to enhance the leading-edge care provided while eliminating the barriers of the existing facilities. Thank you to Turner, Page, UT Dell Medical School, and HHSC for making this tour possible. 

Note: this is a construction site; please wear your PPE (hard hat and close-toed shoes).

1 LU/HSW (pending) with a paid ticket. Spaces are limited and registration is required.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explore the unique campus and building planning features of a psychiatric hospital – including building access and security, secured outdoor courtyards, and internal departmental relationships.
2. Analyze the fire life safety approach to designing a secure inpatient mental health facility, including fail secure and defend in place strategies.
3. Identify and explain the use of specialized materials and details in the development of a patient-safe environment.
4. Illustrate the differences between the existing hospital facilities and new hospital and how those differences will eliminate barriers and enhance the leading-edge care provided here.

Presenters:

Natale Stephens, AIA EDAC

Bio: Natale Stephens, AIA, EDAC, is an Associate Principal and Senior Healthcare Planner at Page. Natale co-leads the behavioral health workgroup at Page, and engages in research, mentorship, as well as authoring articles and white papers on the impact of the environment on behavior, health, and well-being. She has a passion for universal design and engages in a balanced approach between industry best practices and innovative design that pushes the need for evolution in building technology, care delivery, and facility operations.

Emily Barris, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

Bio: Emily’s technical and practical approach to architecture found its match when she began working on medical facilities of all varieties. Healthcare architecture affects the community from macro to micro levels. Providing such critical infrastructure can have a major impact in the development and quality of life in a community while the smallest detail within a patient room or public space within the medical facility itself can have a profound calming impact on patient or family member in a difficult situation.

Jeff Jewesson, AIA

Bio: Jeff is a Senior Project Architect who has extensive experience working on highly sophisticated healthcare projects. He has been involved in a wide range of medical, high tech and educational facilities involving both new and additional alteration projects. 

Casey England, AIA, RID, LEED AP

Bio: Casey works on a variety of complex projects for Page. His responsibilities include creating partnerships between clients and project stakeholders, facilitating project communication, working closely with construction contract administration particularly in regards to verification of project documents, and researching pertinent construction codes.