Texas Health Fort Worth Jane and John Justin Tower  Driving Health Care Innovation with Culture and Connection 

The Challenge

Texas Health Fort Worth enlisted global design firm HKS to expand its Harris Methodist Hospital campus with a new in-patient surgical tower to increase its surgical capacity and prepare for future changes to the health care industry.  

The Design Solution

Jane and John Justin Tower is a nine-story, 376,000-square-foot (34,932-square-meter) surgical tower with 144 private in-patient rooms, 15 operating rooms and 62 pre- and post-operative rooms. The tower’s public waiting areas feature Western decor and local art installations that honor the history and culture of Fort Worth.  

An on-stage/off-stage design keeps the inner workings of health care delivery out of patient view while public and patient areas are thoughtfully designed for respite and connection. The universal patient rooms were designed to accommodate varying acuity levels with little to no construction modifications. Spacious, family-centered patient suites are also offered, featuring an additional room with a couch bed and television for visitors and a large bathroom with high-end fixtures.  

Justin Tower’s operating rooms are twice the size of the hospital’s existing operating rooms to accommodate robotic and imaging technology as it develops. There are dedicated neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery operating rooms. Stainless steel walls increase environmental sterility in all operating rooms.   

The eighth floor was designed to transform into a fully independent, 36-bed isolation unit if needed. The floor features UV lighting, an independent air filtering and ventilation system, hand washing stations and extra data drops for future telehealth capabilities.  

The Design Impact

Justin Tower is the largest construction project in Texas Health history. The addition of 15 operating rooms and 144 in-patient beds expanded the hospital’s surgical capacity by almost 30%, improved circulation and reduced patient wait times.  

The construction of Justin Tower also allowed for the expansion of the Texas Health Graduate Medical Education program. The surgical tower is now home to Texas Health Fort Worth’s general surgery residency program.