Pearland’s health care market blossoms

PEARLAND – The City of Pearland, population of 130,000, is seeing increased activity and interest from health care providers and the life sciences industry. Here are some projects in the pipeline.

• Merit Medical Systems Inc. is building a $20 million, 118,000-sf manufacturing facility on a 12-acre site on Kirby Dr. The project is expected to be complete in May 2013 and will create about 500 jobs over the next several years.
   
• HCA Gulf Coast Division will break ground in 2013 on a $71 million medical center on 48 acres. The 30-bed, full-service hospital will specialize in pediatrics, women’s services, emergency care and cardiovascular health.
   
• University General Health Systems Inc. plans to close on 32 acres at the end of November with plans for a $70 million complex, including a hospital, senior living facility and medical office building. The facility will support about 400 jobs.
   
• Kelsey-Seybold’s $36 million, 170,000-sf medical office building on 18 acres should be complete in early 2013. About a mile away, construction started in October on a $15 million, 55,000-sf medical office building, designed by Kirksey, on ten acres.

Texas Children’s Hospital’s two medical office buildings are scheduled to open in December 2012.