Harris Health LBJ Hospital Expansion

Site Enabling E3 - Temporary Entry is the completed site-enabling project at 5656 Kelley Street in Houston’s Kashmere Gardens neighborhood. Harris Health System added a 2,040 square foot security screening space and temporary entrance to the existing Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. This infrastructure was designed to facilitate the start of a larger 1,300,000 square foot, 12-story hospital expansion. The estimated cost for this specific enabling work was $499,647.

The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in May 2024. Construction began in June 2024, with a scheduled completion date of August 2024. The TDLR record indicates that the agency closed the project file in August 2024, marking the end of the accessibility review process for this construction phase. The scheduled build window of 61 days was shorter than the 182-day median for similar additions in Harris County.

Design and Financial Context

HKS, Inc. served as the design firm of record for this project. The cost per square foot was $245, which is above the Harris County median of $100 for additions to existing buildings. However, the total estimated cost of $499,647 is close to the county median of $441,000 for this type of work. The project involved public funds and public land, aligning with Harris Health System’s status as a public healthcare provider.

Harris Health System has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling $71,324,537, including expansions at Ben Taub Hospital and a central fill pharmacy. HKS, Inc. has worked on six other registered projects totaling $25,007,020, ranging from solar canopies in Austin to hospital expansions in Dallas. The immediate area includes several other registered projects at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, indicating ongoing development in the Kashmere Gardens area.

City of Houston permit records show one building permit on file at this street address, issued in 2026 for a 535 square foot hospital remodel. This permit is distinct from the 2,040 square foot enabling work described in the TDLR filing. The surrounding ZIP code 77026 has a population of about 20,536, with a median household income of $34,835 according to U.S. Census estimates. Housing in the area is mostly renter-occupied, with a median owner-occupied home value of $104,800.