R. Waverley Smith Pavilion

             
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Constructed as a special wing to the second John Sealy Hospital and initially dedicated in 1953, the R. Waverley Smith Pavilion was named in memory of the husband of Jennie Sealy Smith. A Galveston attorney, he served on the University of Texas Board of Regents from 1903 to 1915 and was one of the original directors and a president of The Sealy & Smith Foundation. Funded through a provision in Jennie Sealy Smith’s will, the pavilion was designated for the use of private patients and was one of the first hospitals in Texas to be air-conditioned. 

The facility underwent a major renovation in 1995 and today houses the university’s gynecological, obstetrical and newborn nursery services, including the university’s neonatal intensive care unit. To enhance the stay of new mothers and allow better viewing of infants, a colorful, open-plan nursery for full-term newborns was constructed on the second floor. The lobby and entry area were expanded through a wing-style addition, and a copper-roofed porte-cochere was added to the main entrance.