In 2008, a storm surge caused by Hurricane Ike sent 13 feet of water through UTMB facilities in Galveston, causing $1 billion dollars’ worth of damage. But in the words of past university regent Beauregard Bryan, “The University of Texas stops for no storm.” To ensure that this remains the case, UTMB developed a plan to “design and construct a resilient campus capable of recovering from a weather event independent of federal response.” The plan involves raising mission-critical functions to locations above 20 feet in existing buildings and above 25 feet in new construction. In addition, all buildings are to be designed for a minimum wind speed of 132 mph. The design of UTMB’s Jennie Sealy Hospital, scheduled to open this year, follows the same resiliency principles. All critical functions are located above 25 feet, including the emergency department, which is accessible via a ramp. First-floor utilities function independently from the rest of the building. The exterior façade is being commissioned to make sure it can withstand winds up to 160 mph and resist water and air infiltration from driving wind and rain.