UT's Academic Medical Center will be relocated, not built at Erwin Center site
University of Texas System Chairman Kevin Eltife announced on Wednesday that the proposed Erwin Center location for UT's new Academic Medical Center is no longer feasible. The center, a collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center, was initially planned to be built at the historic Frank Erwin Center, but the decision was made to move it due to constraints on future growth.
"As our institutions worked together over the past year, it became clear that the Erwin Center site wouldn't support the fully integrated, patient-centric approach we envisioned," Eltife explained during a UT Regents board meeting. "There are limitations to expansion on that site."
The project, valued at $2.5 billion, aims to significantly enhance Austin's healthcare offerings and expand UT's medical presence. It will include two hospitals: an MD Anderson Cancer Center and a UT specialty care hospital. Initially, officials anticipated groundbreaking in 2026, but the new location's timeline remains uncertain.
The Erwin Center, operational for 46 years, was demolished in 2024 to make way for the new medical facilities. While no immediate plans are in place for the site, UT President Jim Davis will present a revised plan to the regents in the future.
Before the MD Anderson partnership was announced in 2023, UT officials had planned to expand the medical campus at the Erwin site. Its proximity to the main campus, downtown Austin, and UT's Dell Medical School made it an ideal location.
"We're thrilled to advance this project, combining UT MD Anderson's cancer care expertise with UT Austin's academic medical center and research capabilities," Eltife stated. "This partnership will enable Texas to leverage both institutions' strengths in patient care, education, innovation, and research, creating a unique opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in Texas."
This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
