The UT Medical Center, which is currently under construction, will no longer face constraints from development regulations designed to protect the Texas State Capitol’s sightlines.
The medical center is scheduled to be built on the site of the former Erwin Center, according to a University
news release
, and hospital construction is expected to begin in 2026. The site will include two hospital towers: the MD Anderson Cancer Center, a joint initiative with the University, and a UT specialty hospital. Both buildings are expected to open by 2030.
All new construction within certain areas in Austin previously had to abide by
Capitol View Corridors
, which were restrictions under state law meant to preserve views of the Capitol. However, the recent passing of
Texas House Bill 3114
eliminates some of these corridors to accommodate renovations to the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the medical center’s construction.
University spokesperson Mike Rosen wrote in an email that removing the restrictions maximizes space at the construction site, allowing for the evaluation of more design options.
“Ultimately, it allows greater functionality and allows us to serve more people,” Rosen wrote.
An MD Anderson spokesperson wrote in an email that the institution is grateful to Texas State Rep. Charlie Geren for authoring the bill and to bill sponsor Sen. Brandon Creighton. They also wrote that the University and the University of Texas System helped in the process.
“With the bill’s recent signing, our teams are hard at work to develop plans for our future Austin campus,” the spokesperson wrote. “We look forward to building a world-class cancer center that allows patients in Austin and the surrounding region to receive the nation’s top cancer care close to home.”
