Central Health Administrative Offices & Central Clinic
+ Project Details
About
Enterprise Headquarters and Multi-Purpose Care Site Center
Austin, TX
238,000 sf
Central Health, the public hospital district for Travis County, was established by voters in 2004 and provides healthcare services to low-income and underinsured residents of Travis County. With a vision to create a multi-purpose clinic in a centralized location and consolidate administrative offices, Central Health purchased Austin’s oldest Sears Department Store in the Hancock Center Shopping Center. Originally opened in 1963 and left vacant in 2019, the 238,000 sf space offers convenient mobility connections and better access to fresh food and medicine to serve marginalized populations.
BGK Architects is leading the transformation of this historic building into a modern headquarters and multi-purpose care center. The design approach prioritizes patient comfort, safety, and accessibility while preserving the site's rich history. The project reuses the exisiting site and building structure while modernizing the facility to house state-of-the-art health care clinics, including labs, a pharmacy, dental clinic, primary care services, specialty clinics, and lab and diagnostic spaces. It will also feature shared diagnostics & imaging spaces, training facilities, public accommodations, and over 100,000 sf of administrative office space.
The move from multiple leased spaces across the city to this new landmark headquarters will provide cost savings for decades, enhance collaboration across services, and increase productivity. This will be the first time Central Health will be providing clinical services directly, rather than through partnerships with other healthcare providers.
In collaboration with BSA LifeStructures, BGK Architects is leading the adaptive reuse project, which is targeted for Austin Energy Green Building 3 Star Certification. To allow for early occupancy of various clinics, a multi-phased approach to permitting and construction was developed. Currently, design is completed and the CMAR project is targeted for a 2026 completion. This project demonstrates BGK Architects' expertise and commitment to repurposing and transforming existing properties to better serve the community, environment, and underserved populations.
