HOUSTON (April 21, 2026) — Construction on the new Harris Health John M. O’Quinn Hospital campus reached a milestone recently – 50% complete. The transformative addition to Harris Health is expected to open for patients in early 2029. Additionally, the campus includes a new central utility plant, a seven-level visitor parking garage and a two-acre working farm.
As of April 2026, the 1.3 million-square-foot hospital structure is fully topped out with exterior enclosure, interior build out and major mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems progressing on schedule. Interior walls, window placements, installation of prefabricated bathroom pods and construction of the main hospital entrance canopy are well underway or near completion.
The central utility plant, a critical part of the expansion, is almost fully functional to support the temporary power needs of the campus. Major mechanical systems — including boilers, condenser water pumps, expansion tanks, fuel tanks and water tanks — have been delivered and installed.
“Momentum is building across the campus as utility piping, electrical systems and tunnel connections linking the plant to the hospital and parking garage continue to take shape bringing us closer to permanent power and full HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) capability, on track with the overall project schedule,” says Patrick Casey, senior vice president, Facilities Construction and Systems Engineering, Harris Health.
The parking garage looks closer to completion thanks to precast panels, completed concrete pours and finished elevator and stair well cores. Interior work has begun in designated lease spaces, and underground detention improvements are in place throughout the site to mitigate future flooding concerns.
“Across the full campus expansion, more than 2.5 million construction hours have been logged to date by workers, reflecting the scale, complexity and coordinated effort required to deliver one of the largest healthcare construction projects in the region,” Casey says.
While work on the farm will not begin until most of the construction nears completion, it remains a vital part of the campus plan. In addition to reaching the half-way mark in construction, the project has already spent nearly half of its $2 billion budget.
“This milestone is the result of an extraordinary team effort with our construction partners, engineers, trades and Harris Health staff working in lockstep every day to keep safety, quality and schedule at the forefront,” Casey adds.
The new 330-bed hospital is part of Harris Health’s $3.2 billion strategic facilities plan, a multi-year effort that impacts all inpatient and outpatient services and addresses the growing needs of residents for decades to come. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Harris Health as the public safety-net healthcare provider in Harris County.