Houston Methodist Hospital

Methodist Research Institute

Enhancing the speed at which new discoveries can go from bench to bedside.

The Methodist Hospital Methodist Research Institute was established as a research organization for a conglomerate of educational and healthcare institutions at the forefront of innovative discovery.

Situated at the heart of the Texas Medical Center near the 1,000-bed hospital, the 12-story facility is dedicated to supporting, managing, and conducting clinical and translational research and is equipped with some of the most advanced technology in the world. It is the only institution in the country to have three funded National Cancer Institute Centers, with biology, nanotechnology, and physics-based oncology remaining the primary focus areas.

Connecting patients and researchers with ease, the building features modular laboratory spaces to encourage collaboration, facilitate discussion, and create flexible cross-disciplinary research spaces for over 90 principal investigators and 800 post-docs.

AEI provided mechanical, electrical, piping/plumbing, instrumentation and controls, and architectural lighting services for this highly advanced research facility, collaborating with all project entities to optimize budget and expenses throughout design and construction.

Location

Houston, TX

Partners

  • Harvey Builders - Construction Manager
  • Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC - Design Architect
  • Page - Architect of Record
  • Walter P Moore - Civil Engineer

Building Size

440,000 sq. ft.

Awards

  • 2013 Outstanding Regional Project Technology Award for Outstanding Application of Technology
  • 2011 Edwin F. Guth Memorial Illumination Award of Merit for Interior Lighting Design

With an emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, the building incorporates a variety of high-performance engineering solutions, including:

  • HVAC system for the laboratory and office spaces incorporating a shared air handling unit system for both occupancies
  • Uninterruptible power system providing emergency backup power
  • 4.3MW combined heat and power system
  • Recirculating drinking water system
25%
energy savings over code
500,000
gallons of water

The exterior canopy provides environmental protection for patients and visitors.

The Research Institute also has 35,000 square feet of training space, including a virtual hospital and 15-station procedural skills lab, computer-aided surgery-capable operating rooms, and a cardiothoracic operating room.

The building includes offices, conference rooms, and an auditorium enabling researchers to share their knowledge on treating and understanding a variety of diseases and cancers through each phase of research.

Virtual operating rooms at the Research Institute feature computer-aided surgery and robotics

Project Leaders