The University of Texas System announced plans to build two hospitals as part of the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, a new, comprehensive cancer center operated by MD Anderson and a specialty UT Austin hospital, with an estimated price tag of $2.5 billion.
The hospitals will be built on the site of the former University of Texas basketball arena, according to an Aug. 14 university news release. The demolition will be completed by fall 2024; the health system estimates that it will break ground on the hospital in 2026.
The two hospitals will be adjacent to each other. The UT Austin Hospital will be operated independently by UT Austin and Dell Medical School. The MD Anderson facility will be staffed by MD Anderson physicians.
The total investment is still under discussion.
"The establishment of the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center adjacent to a new University hospital and access to all of UT Austin's education and research assets, will undoubtedly result in transformative cancer care, provide students at the flagship campus with unmatched experiences, and benefit patients throughout the state and nation for all time," UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife said in the release.