One of Texas Children’s most recognizable buildings now has a brand new name. The Clinical Care Tower has been renamed the Mark A. Wallace Tower in honor of Texas Children’s long-time President and CEO.
The announcement of the renaming came at the culmination of a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday evening. It was the work of the Board and a complete surprise to Wallace. As the meeting appeared to arrive at its routine close, Board Chair Ann Lents opened the doors of the board room to welcome a few guests – Wallace’s wife Shannon and the entire Executive Council. Lents then proceeded with reading the Board’s resolution to rename the building in honor of Wallace’s 27 years of leadership and service to the organization.
“When you came to Texas Children’s, our hospital was a good but regional provider,” Lents said. “Now Texas Children’s is the largest and most comprehensive provider of children’s and women’s services. You brought a sense of mission and unbounding energy and a generosity of spirit to the job that are all the more remarkable given that you’ve been at it since 1989.”
Wallace and his wife were filled with emotion as the announcement unfolded in the room of about 100 Board members and executives. Expressing his appreciation, Wallace recognized the commitment of the Board, staff and dedicated employees.
“When [late Board member] George Peterkin recruited me, he convinced me that with this Board, Dr. Feigin and this community that we could do something incredible,” Wallace said. “I never imagined anything like this. We’ve gone from one location, seven floors, 350,000 square feet and 1,400 employees to all of this because of the Board, the great medical staff and our employees. Our employees are so committed to this organization and to the children, women and families we take care of. I can’t adequately put into words how much this means to me.”
When Wallace took the helm of Texas Children’s in 1989, the hospital was still contained in a single building – the seven-story Abercrombie Building. The West Tower and Clinical Care Tower (now, the current Feigin Tower) were completed shortly after in 1991. In 2003, as part of a $345 million project, the West Tower was expanded and a new, 16-floor Clinical Care Tower was built at the corner of Holcombe and Fannin. The building houses most of Texas Children’s outpatient clinics, including Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Neurology and Orthopedics.
Because of the prominent location of the clinical building, it continues to be one of the most visible of the Texas Children’s medical center buildings, making it a perfect choice for the naming honor. But Lents noted that the honor is a milestone in a continuing journey.
“This is not a capstone naming, this is an interim recognition,” Lents said. “We are looking forward to many more years of your leadership.”
TEXAS CHILDREN’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, upon arriving at Texas Children’s as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark A. Wallace stated that “my goal is for Texas Children’s to be the preeminent pediatric hospital in the world”;
WHEREAS, in his pursuit of that goal, Mark A. Wallace’s visionary leadership and tireless commitment have elevated Texas Children’s to a level of excellence and preeminence not even imagined when he joined Texas Children’s in 1989;
WHEREAS, integral to the goal of preeminence, Mark A. Wallace’s vision has encompassed and supported the development of leaders at all levels, based on his steadfast belief that “leadership always influences or determines outcomes — not some of the time, but all of the time”;
WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Trustees of Texas Children’s wish to express their deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to Mark A. Wallace and honor, recognize and commemorate his inspirational leadership as well as his unwavering pursuit of excellence;
IT IS NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVED that in recognition of his devotion and personal commitment to Texas Children’s, we hereby rename the Clinical Care Tower as the Mark A. Wallace Tower at Texas Children’s Hospital; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees looks forward to many more years of Mark A. Wallace’s commitment and extraordinary leadership in guiding Texas Children’s to continued preeminence in creating a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research.
UNANIMOUSLY adopted this 12th day of January, 2017.