The Texas Medical Center
When most people associate an economic engine with the Houston economy, the Energy industry is the first thing that comes to mind. Houston is without a doubt the Energy Capital of the world and also the home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
However, the lesser-known too many outside the city is the Texas Medical Center. (TMC), the world’s largest medical center, represents one of Houston’s major economic drivers and core industries, with an estimated regional annual economic impact of $25 billion, and is the driving force behind the Houston healthcare market. TMC is also one of Houston’s largest employers, with 106,000 employees, including physicians, scientists, researchers, and other advanced-degree professionals in the life sciences. The internationally-renowned 1,345-acre TMC is the world’s largest medical complex of member institutions, including leading medical, academic, and research institutions, all of which are non-profit and dedicated to the highest standards of research, education, and patient preventive care. Over 50,000 students, including more than 20,000 international students, are affiliated with TMC. The Texas Medical Center comprises 50 million developed square feet and currently has $3 billion in construction projects underway.
TMC Helix Park
The Texas Medical Center’s new life science campus broke ground in 2021. TMC Helix Park is a world-class life science campus that will unite the best minds in medicine, science, academia, and commerce to rapidly drive new research breakthroughs. A first-of-its-kind translational research initiative, the visionary 37-acre campus will include shared and proprietary research centers, multidisciplinary labs, healthcare institutions, a hotel and conference center, a residential tower, retail, restaurants, and a unique double-helix green space.
TMC BioPort campus
The Texas Medical Center in 2022 announced plans for a 4th campus a massive biomanufacturing and medical supplies distribution center in Houston. TMC BioPort will be built on 500 acres south of Loop 610.
The newest campus is still in the early stages of development. However, once completed, it’s expected to double the overall size of the medical center and create 100,000 jobs for the Greater Houston metro. The medical center has been focused on expanding its presence in the life sciences ecosystem in recent years through projects such as TMC Innovation and TMC Helix Park. TMC Innovation opened in 2015 in the former Nabisco cookie factory.
