Harris County IFS Morgue Renovation in Houston, TX

The Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston is undergoing a $2,387,040 renovation of its autopsy facilities on Old Spanish Trail. This Harris County project covers 3,737 sq ft of space on Level 1, focusing specifically on the large and two small autopsy rooms. The work is scheduled to finish in August 2027, following a construction start in January 2027.

Scope and Design

Johnston, LLC serves as the design firm of record for this alteration project. The scope includes comprehensive updates to equipment, infrastructure, and flooring within the designated rooms. Tim Mullins is the registered accessibility specialist associated with the filing. The project was registered with TDLR in August 2026, and plan review was completed in the same month.

This renovation is a significant investment relative to typical county filings. The estimated cost places this project in the top quarter of Harris County renovation filings by value. At $639 per sq ft, the cost per unit area is well above the county median of $80 for similar work types. The scheduled build window of 228 days is also longer than the county median of 92 days, reflecting the specialized nature of the infrastructure updates.

Harris County is the owner of record and has six other TDLR-registered projects totaling over $44 million, including infrastructure and facility work across Houston and surrounding areas. Johnston, LLC has designed six other projects for various clients, including healthcare and municipal facilities, with a combined value of nearly $23 million.

The project involves public funds and public land. Census estimates for the 77030 ZIP code indicate a population of about 12,976 and a median household income of $79,415. The Harris County unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in July 2026, a figure higher than a year earlier. Construction activities are expected to proceed according to the filed timeline, with completion targeted for late summer 2027.