THE WOODLANDS (Houston Business Journal) – Local architecture firm Watkins Hamilton Ross will break ground in early 2010 on the 240,000-sf expansion of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital.

The first phase of the $104 million project will add eight surgical suites, pre-operation and recovery rooms, waiting areas, sterile processing, a 36-bed patient care unit and a parking garage to the hospital.

The hospital will have 288 beds and three shelled floors for future growth.

Walter P. Moore is contracted for civil and structural engineering, while mechanical, electrical and plumbing duties have been given to Smith, Seckman and Reid.