University Health Builds Palo Alto and Retama Hospital Campuses

University Health is constructing two leading-edge hospital campuses in San Antonio and Selma, Texas. Based on a single prototype design by ESa (Earl Swensson Associates) and Marmon Mok, the $1.5 billion project will create two five-story structures, each spanning approximately 604,561 sf with an additional floor serving as shell space for future expansion. An adjoining medical office building will be integrated into each location, providing physician offices, administrative environments, and venues for clinical services. 

The Palo Alto and Retama facilities will initially offer 166 and 140 beds respectively, with the ability to increase capacity to 286 beds in response to ongoing community health needs. Major departments such as surgery, imaging, and emergency will be strategically housed on the first floor to minimize disruption to existing operations during growth. Each standardized site will accommodate private inpatient rooms, intensive care beds, labor and delivery suites, and a neonatal intensive care unit, as well as radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy services. 

The Palo Alto development is being built by Turner Construction in partnership with Byrne Construction Services and Straight Line Management. Layton Construction is the construction manager at risk for the Retama hospital campus, working in association with project manager Broaddus & Associates. Other firms lending their expertise includes WSP, Pape-Dawson, Datum Engineers, and AG&E. Following groundbreaking in early 2024, both full-service facilities are anticipated to open in 2027.