Project Overview
St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas is a striking example of what’s possible at the intersection of thoughtful design and strategic building material selection. The Austin, Tex., facility, designed by Earl Swensson Associates Inc., with precast concrete manufactured by Enterprise Precast Concrete, features a 167,230-ft2 vertical expansion, adding four stories to an existing three-story hospital wing. Seamlessly integrated into a campus already defined by architectural precast concrete, the expansion enhances patient-care capacity while preserving the aesthetic continuity and operational integrity of the facility.
Designed to Heal, Built to Last
From the beginning, precast concrete was the material of choice for the project, an intentional decision rooted in the client’s experience with, and confidence in, its durability, safety, and design versatility. The existing hospital wing and surrounding campus structures were built with architectural precast concrete, making it the natural solution for the vertical expansion. Enterprise Precast Concrete manufactured 312 cladding wall panels for the work, including vertically spanning panels, column wraps, and horizontal spandrels.
Each panel features a medium sandblast finish and one of two integral colors—cream or pink-tinted orange—carefully matched to the existing building. Achieving this color match was one of the project’s most complex challenges. The Enterprise Precast Concrete team produced multiple rounds of 1 × 1 ft samples, meticulously refining mixture proportions to replicate the hues of the original structure. Once approved, full-scale mock-ups were created and reviewed on-site to ensure visual harmony. The result is a façade that blends flawlessly with the existing architecture, preserving the campus’s identity.
Another significant challenge was maintaining hospital operations throughout construction. The facility remained fully functional during erection, requiring precise coordination among the project team. Just-in-time deliveries and strategic scheduling minimized site disruption and ensured patient safety. This collaborative effort allowed the team to meet logistical and safety requirements without compromising care delivery.
Beyond technical excellence, the expansion supports the hospital’s mission to provide a healing environment. The design includes 4 new operating rooms, 36 recovery rooms, 59 postoperative rooms, and 24 specialized-care rooms, along with two levels of shelled space for future growth. The use of precast concrete enabled accelerated construction, reduced costs, and ensured long-term durability, all key factors in delivering a high-performance healthcare facility.
By choosing precast concrete and partnering with experienced design and construction teams, officials with St. David’s Healthcare achieved a seamless architectural transformation for the Women’s Center expansion. It is a testament to how precision, collaboration, and material innovation can shape spaces that simultaneously serve and inspire.
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013. |