The Texas Medical Center houses several top-notch health care facilities, research labs and medical institutions. Now, officials with the center are looking to add a place where visitors, patients and residents can stay inside Helix Park.

What we know

Bill McKeon, the president of the Texas Medical Center, announced during the State of TMC event Nov. 20 that a new hotel, conference center and residential tower will break ground in Helix Park in 2026.

The building will include an 18,000-square-foot conference center, 250 hotel rooms and 300 residential units.

McKeon said during his speech that the development was driven by a need for more space to gather and host larger events, as the current capacity of the TMC3 building has begun to feel too small for larger gatherings.

"This is the largest medical center in the world with 60 plus institutions—we don't have a conference center," he said. "This is something that we have needed for forever."

The new building will take over the entire north end of Helix Park, McKeon said, a space that sits as an empty parking lot. He noted the project is already fully financed but did not share the overall cost. Construction is slated to take approximately two years to build.

In related news

McKeon also announced that the 6550 Bertner Ave. building, known as The Commons, would receive a new facelift. The building serves as a hub for employees and visitors of the Texas Medical Center to dine in at restaurants, such as Chick-fil-A and Starbucks.

The Commons was previously a parking garage but was later transformed into what it is today. Outside of the building, the facade includes a running wall of water that McKeon said has been leaking on people as they pass by. So, he said Medical Center officials are looking to transform the outside of the building into a "kinetic wall."

A kinetic wall, according to Extech, a company that builds them, is a dynamic wind-driven facade that creates the appearance of rolling waves.The green space located outside of the building will also be transformed to include a park with trees, a shaded bus stop and seating options.

"We want you eating outside, meeting friends for coffee," he said. "It's really going to be transforming this whole space."

McKeon noted that some new tenants and brands will also be added to The Commons as part of the overall renovation, although he noted he could not announce the new brands yet.

Renovation of The Commons is expected to start Jan. 1.