Built to advance the front lines of combat casualty care, the Battlefield Health & Trauma Biomedical Research Laboratory was developed as a cornerstone for military medical research. Positioned beside Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio–Fort Sam Houston, the facility serves as a critical extension of the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research. Encompassing 160,000 square feet of new construction and 10,000 square feet of renovated lab space, the eight-story structure—three levels below ground and five above—was designed to support high-level research, surgical simulation, and trauma innovation. As the first BRAC-funded project to break ground in San Antonio, it established a new standard for military healthcare infrastructure.

WestEast served as Associate Architect, contributing interior design expertise, ensuring document quality, and actively managing construction administration. With a consistent on-site presence, the team maintained oversight through every phase, catching issues early and resolving them before they could escalate. This hands-on approach helped streamline coordination among stakeholders, including consultants and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Given the sensitive nature of the facility, the design met rigorous security and performance standards, such as Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection measures and progressive collapse engineering—safeguards essential to both personnel and research operations.

Unexpected construction challenges, including undocumented utility lines, tested the team’s agility and problem-solving capabilities. Through close collaboration with Fort Sam Houston officials and the Corps of Engineers, these issues were addressed swiftly, keeping the project on track. The completed facility is now a secure, high-performance research environment that continues to support breakthrough developments in trauma and surgical care for military personnel. Its thoughtful design, durable systems, and specialized spaces reflect a deep understanding of the mission it serves—standing as a model for future military medical research facilities.