About the Project
This 3-story, 106-bed pediatric hospital was dedicated on May 15, 1953. Texas Children’s Hospital instantly became recognized for its construction, architectural design elements and superb pediatric healthcare. The original Texas Children’s Hospital would go on to serve the Houston community for decades, and the organization continues its health care mission to the present day with dozens of locations throughout Houston and beyond. Tellepsen has enjoyed this decades-long working relationship with Texas Children's Hospital and continues to build new projects for this client to this day.
For years, influential Houstonians and medical professionals entertained the idea of building a dedicated pediatric Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. A hospital was needed to promote research for pediatric medicine and to better treat children in a booming post World War II Houston. Thus, the Texas Children’s Foundation was formed with a goal to raise capital and assemble a team of Doctors and personnel to manage the future hospital. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 23, 1951 and Tellepsen was chosen as the General Contractor to build this new flagship medical facility that we know as Texas Children’s Hospital.
Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the three story concrete structure was most notable for its long north south elevations that were further distinguished by the use of overhanging, flared aluminum fins that served as solar shades for the patient rooms. The design of the building incorporated elements within the hospital that made it feel less institutionalized therefore catering to the families and patients. Furthermore, the building won a design award from the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as a national design award from the AIA.
From an idea to admitting the first patient, many thousands of Houstonians helped cheerlead this special project. These include people from practically every profession including businessmen, pastors, construction, design, and health care professionals. They all played a role. One notable Texas Children’s Physician is Dr. Benjy Frances Brooks who happened to be the only female pediatric surgeon in all of Texas when she was brought on board to practice there.
Since 1951, Tellepsen Builders and Texas Children’s Hospital have maintained a special relationship. Tellepsen has acted as General Contractor for Texas Children’s on a multitude of projects since. These projects include Texas Children’s The Woodlands and Texas Children’s West Campus and many more. It is Tellepsen’s longstanding loyalty to our clients, and ability to construct the most sophisticated and specialized healthcare facilities in the world that has allowed this partnership to flourish for the last 70 years.
