“From our very first engagement with the UT Health San Antonio team, we have been inspired by the faculty’s commitment to ‘cure Alzheimer’s in this building,’” notes Briana Gutierrez, Senior Associate, a project management co-lead with Senior Associate Chris Ahumada. Senior Principal Ariel Chavela, project architect, adds, “We are extremely proud of our contributions to health infrastructure for UT San Antonio. The Center for Brain Health is an exciting new addition to the campus.”
Held under bright November skies, Wednesday’s ribbon cutting featured key leadership and donors. UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy, PhD, acknowledged the strong support of the UT System. Mrs. Ann Biggs and Mrs. Mary Henrich, wives of the late Glenn Biggs and William Henrich, took part in the dedication ceremony.
Adding their remarks, Department of Neurology Chair Carlayne Jackson, MD; Biggs Institute Director Sudha Seshadri, MD; and Francisco G. Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system for UT San Antonio, each addressed the group:
Dr. Carlayne Jackson emphasized the transformational “one-stop” nature of treatment at the new Center: “For the first time, we can provide care, conduct research and train the next generation of neurologists under the same roof. Our patients can see specialists, participate in research trials, receive therapies, infusions and access support programs without ever leaving the building.”
Dr. Sudha Seshadri, Director of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, said the new center is a state-of-the-art hub for both the study and treatment of diseases of the brain, co-locating advanced research with the ability to give patients and families the treatments and therapies they need “to live the best possible life they can.”
Dr. Francisco Cigarroa highlighted the importance of the recent passage of Texas Proposition 14. Officially known as the Establish Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Amendment, Proposition 14 was approved by voters this November. It allocates $3 billion from the state budget to fund research and prevention efforts for dementia and related diseases; The Center for Brain Health is poised to benefit from this new funding allocation.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, guests toured the facility which features a state-of-the-art imaging suite with a seven-Tesla MRI – only the second of its kind in Texas; specialized treatment areas; a comprehensive physical therapy gym; treatment and therapy suites; and staff and faculty offices. On the second floor, a flexible community space can host a variety of programs. An art therapy lab and library are also available as enrichments to the patient experience.
Our architecture and interior design team, in collaboration with healthcare specialists at Treanor and general contractor Joeris, have delivered a sophisticated, tailor-made facility built to serve the staff, faculty and patients at The Center for Brain Health. We at Alamo Architects are honored and excited to join our clients at the threshold of “a new era of hope, healing and discovery.”
View the UT Health Center for Brain Health Project Case Study.
