'Center of resilience': American Red Cross breaks ground on new regional headquarters

The $13 million regional headquarters is expected to open by late 2026 to early 2027 at the nonprofit's former office space off Pershing Drive, Hajibeigi, said.

The 15,000-square-foot facility will allow the organization to collect blood and platelet donations on-site for the first time, she said. Through launching the blood and platelet donation center, the American Red Cross is aiming to double or triple its blood donor base to support hospitals and health care providers in the area, American Red Cross officials said.

“Our building that we've called home for the last 50 years did not sustain our ability to collect blood in the way that would meet the demands and the needs of our fellow Texans,” Hajibeigi said.

The center will feature expanded office and meeting spaces as well as classrooms to provide lifesaving training courses, including CPR and First Aid. The building will include additional storage space for blankets, cots, snacks and other supplies needed to shelter thousands of people during disasters in Central and South Texas and beyond, Hajibeigi said.

Someone in the United States needs a blood donation every two seconds due to emergencies or accidents, burns, surgeries, organ transplants and conditions like leukemia, according to American Red Cross data.

The new regional headquarters in East Austin will help the American Red Cross meet the growing need for blood donations in the United States, said Javier Valdez, CEO for the American Red Cross of Central and South Texas. The organization currently provides 40% of the nation's blood supply, according to American Red Cross information.

In Central and South Texas, the American Red Cross serves nearly 10 million people across more than 83 counties, he said.

“The Austin community has always eagerly rolled up their sleeves to make our community more resilient,” said Brian Moeschler, American Red Cross regional donor services executive. “We are deeply grateful to this community for doing this. Today's groundbreaking is just the beginning. We look forward to opening our doors and continuing to serve this incredible community with an even greater impact “

Put in perspective

Hajibeigi said she experienced the importance of donating blood firsthand when receiving a blood transfusion saved her life. While delivering her daughter in 2023, Hajibeigi said she began hemorrhaging and lost 40% of her blood supply.

“Ten years I've been with the Red Cross, and I never got it until that moment,” Hajibeigi said. “It was about 10 minutes from the time that I started to feel faint and I started to crash until they had the blood in my system, and I was basically coming back to life.”

It takes about 10 minutes for someone to donate their blood and potentially save someone else's life, Hajibeigi said.

“That was not lost on me in those moments," she said. “I was able to survive what I went through because somebody like them rolled up their sleeves.”