Gensler, a global design firm, announced the grand opening this month of Third Coast, a redesigned and rebranded restaurant located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center. Gensler designed the space to cater to health care professionals and the local community for lunch and happy hour, while serving as a fine dining and event space on evenings and weekends.

“There is a constant play between formality and hospitality, both appropriate for a space that responds to the medical neighborhood and serves as a place to relax, dine and have conversations about earth-shattering new discoveries,” says Lisa Pope-Westerman, principal and design director at Gensler. “Having previously designed the neighboring office spaces for Texas Medical Center executives, our goal was to carry the elevated, sophisticated look throughout the new restaurant concept while amplifying the transitional hospitality feel.”

Third Coast is open for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner and features a main dining room, centralized bar and banquet room, private dining rooms, and a covered terrace that can be used for dining or event space.  The main dining area is designed to be completely flexible with banquette seating that can be broken down and taken away for large events.  The balcony and indoor/outdoor fireplace provides the ultimate dining experience during cooler months. Third Coast is owned by the Texas Medical Center, which partners with H Town Restaurant Group to operate the restaurant.

Technology elements in the space include a multi-screen display for presentations above the indoor fireplace, as well as TV monitors inset above the bar, which can be listened to using headphones provided at the bar. Each private dining and banquet room is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities. The ceiling’s LED lighting is also color changing to provide a more customized feel for a variety of events.