Texas Behavioral Health Center at UT Southwestern

Texas Health & Human Services Commission|Dallas, TX

Texas Health and Human Services, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Children’s Health partnered to advance Texas’s mental health care system by establishing a comprehensive continuum of care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.Working closely with stakeholders, the design team developed a state-of-the-art, 200-bed facility serving adult, geriatric, medically complex, and forensic populations, alongside a 96-bed pediatric wing dedicated to children and adolescents, including those with medical complexities. Partner Firm | HKS Architects

Project Type:
Mental Health

Cost:
$270 million

Size:
350,000 SF

sensory-based courtyards

Located in downtown Dallas, the facility is designed to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health treatment. The environment incorporates welcoming patient-centered features such as therapeutic interior courtyards with restorative landscaping, opportunities for both passive and active therapy, a dedicated patient drop-off area, and thoughtfully designed spaces that support relaxation and recovery throughout the building.

research-focused

This forward-thinking model delivers multiple levels of psychiatric care within a specialized behavioral health setting rather than a traditional medical hospital. The facility includes an interventional psychiatry suite, neuromodulation services, inpatient and outpatient programs, MRI capabilities, and pet therapy options. Emphasizing a hospitality-inspired atmosphere, the design prioritizes comfort, dignity, and healing while maintaining a strong clinical foundation.

Together, these elements support the development of innovative care models, workforce training grounded in holistic practice, and advanced research aimed at improving treatment and prevention strategies.