St. David’s HealthCare opened a freestanding emergency center in Leander this year, and the health care provider plans to expand the building into a medical complex in future phases.

The 11,200-square foot center opened in January on 52 acres between US 183 and Toll 183A north of San Gabriel Parkway. The building serves as an extension of St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, which is a Level II Trauma Center, and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Jeremy Barclay, CEO of the Round Rock Medical Center, said St. David’s plans to turn the emergency center into a medical complex, which will be constructed in phases as the area continues to grow.

“The first phase of development includes the freestanding emergency center, which is now complete and open,” he said. “The second phase will include the construction of a medical office building, which is currently under development and will bring more physicians to the Leander community.”

Construction of the medical office building is expected to begin within 2018. The third phase of the complex is set to become a hospital in the future.