Mobile Operations Complex Grand Opening

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center on May 20, 2009 celebrated the grand opening of its new Mobile Operations Complex. The 85,000-square-foot “green” facility at 9990 Fannin replaces the warehouse that was lost to a fire in 2005, and is the new home to more than 200 employees. It will be the launching point for more than 5,000 mobile blood drives held each year.

The occasion was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a lunch reception and remarks by Dr. Richard Wainerdi, president of the Texas Medical Center, and Houston City Council Member Wanda Adams.

“The Blood Center has saved and sustained approximately 20 million lives since we opened in 1975,” said Chief Financial Officer Melissa Fisher. “In building the Mobile Operations Complex, our vision was to seek further opportunities to give back by building green – taking fewer resources from our community and leading to greater sustainability for the environment.”

The facility is on track to receive LEED-certification in 2010. Environmentally friendly features include a solar-orientated plan, low-use water fixtures, rain tanks and a wellness center, among other things. For a complete list of green elements, see the news article on our Web site, www.giveblood.org. The site holds a piece of Houston history, as it was part of the Pierce Junction oil field that produced more than 88 million barrels of oil from 1921 to 1984.