Crews cleared the last standing remains of concrete and steel that once made up the Frank Erwin Center on May 19. (Courtesy Valerie Nies)
The last remains of steel and concrete that once made up the Frank Erwin Center were demolished May 19. Crews have been taking down the former arena piece by piece since June 2023.
The details
The project will be completed “far below” the $25 million budget and ahead of schedule, said Dan Cook, The University of Texas' executive director of planning, design and construction.
Cook said the demolition crews are also on track to meet their goal of recycling 80% of materials from the Erwin Center. Crews still need to clear some pieces of concrete retaining walls and parking structures, which is expected to wrap up by September.
“It was very methodical, and it was also quite spectacular,” Cook said. “It was every bit as exciting as anything that would have been explosive probably but just done in a much safer and controlled way.”
Construction on the new facilities will break ground in 2026, with UT aiming to accept patients by 2030, Cook said.
“We’re looking forward to the future,” Cook said. “We've seen that Austin has been growing, and the partnership between the university and the MD Anderson Cancer Center presents itself as a really special opportunity to create what we're referring to as a joint Medical Center that will provide world-class health care to the community.”
