UT MD Anderson announces major expansion to transform cancer care

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the historic expansion of its Texas Medical Center (TMC) campus through two new facilities: Inspiration Tower and Prism. Together, these facilities will fundamentally reshape the future of cancer care and elevate patient experience, enabling UT MD Anderson to care for nearly 250,000 patients annually.

Inspiration Tower and Prism will serve as the new front door to UT MD Anderson. Located at the corner of Fannin St. and Holcombe Blvd., the new facilities will account for nearly 2 million square feet of the most advanced patient care, radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging facilities in the world. Including other ongoing capital projects, the institution's TMC campus will grow from 16.4 million square feet in 2020 to nearly 22 million square feet by 2032.

Every detail of these buildings, from the technology to the treatment rooms, was designed around our patients who will receive their care in them and our employees who will work in them. The facilities will serve as a physical representation of hope for the patients and their families who will walk through the doors. Inspiration Tower and Prism are the future of cancer care, and we are grateful for the longstanding support and guidance we've received from the UT System Board of Regents to bring these projects to life. These facilities are part of the most impactful capital expansion in UT MD Anderson's history."

Jeffrey E. Lee, M.D., president ad interim, UT MD Anderson

As Texas' population continues to grow, the demand for cancer care across the state is rising. These facilities are designed to address this need by expanding capacity and introducing new capabilities that will enable safer, smarter and more personalized care. Adaptable infrastructure will allow UT MD Anderson to incorporate emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, throughout the lifecycle of the buildings. The facilities also are thoughtfully designed to incorporate nature, hospitality and art to promote comfort, healing and wellness.

"The UT System is committed to investing in the state's health care needs. With new facilities like Inspiration Tower and Prism, we're expanding UT MD Anderson's capacity and pace to do what it does better than anyone else in the world – treat and cure cancer," said Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents.

"Existing in every square foot of these incredible new facilities is a commitment to bring hope and healing to thousands of individual patients going through one of the hardest moments in their lives. That is what UT MD Anderson has always stood for, and what occurs in these buildings will carry that promise forward for decades to come," said John Zerwas, M.D., chancellor of the UT System.

Both facilities are priorities of UT MD Anderson's $2.5 billion philanthropic campaign, Only Possible Here, The Campaign to End Cancer. This is the largest fundraising campaign in the institution's history, and it has raised more than $2.22 billion, to date. More than 345,000 donors have supported the campaign with more than 925,000 gifts.

Inspiration Tower unites healing and innovation to transform patient care

Serving as the new benchmark for patient-centered and technology-driven care, Inspiration Tower will be UT MD Anderson's largest and most advanced patient care facility. Anticipated to open in 2032, the 1.4 million-square-foot tower will span 25 floors, making it the largest cancer-focused clinical facility in the nation.

Inspiration Tower will significantly expand UT MD Anderson's outpatient capacity. Rather than patients visiting clinics that treat a variety of related cancers, the tower will be defined by disease-specific clinics that deeply integrate with the institution's research enterprise.

Patients will be able to take advantage of advanced diagnostic and treatment services and state-of-the-art surgical services, all under one roof. The planned tower will include up to 330 exam rooms, 184 short-stay beds, 162 ambulatory treatment stations, 56 imaging rooms, 24 operating rooms and 38 procedure rooms.

The tower's design reflects a hospitality-inspired approach to medicine. Terraced indoor and outdoor spaces will offer room for relaxation, and contemporary art will enhance the experience for patients and their families. On-site parking will be available, and skybridges will connect patients, visitors and employees to neighboring buildings.

Prism reimagines radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging in a visually distinctive facility

Radiation therapy is part of treatment for about half of all cancer patients. Prism is designed to make that experience more welcoming than current environments.

Located next door to Inspiration Tower and connected by a skybridge, Prism will be a 292,000-square-foot next-generation hub for radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging, housed within a visually distinct facility marked by a glass façade.

Scheduled to open in 2030, Prism will serve up to 150,000 patients annually, which will account for nearly half of all linear accelerator activity in the TMC. The facility will include 12 MRI machines, four CT scanners, two PET-CT units, 18 radiation vaults and seven radiation simulators.

A garden view will offer a purposeful transition from the outside world into treatment spaces and rooftop overlooks. A reflection garden and inspirational art will further support comfort and well-being.

Together, Inspiration Tower and Prism represent a $3.4 billion investment that encompasses funding from UT MD Anderson and UT System alongside philanthropic support.

"Every patient we treat deserves an environment that reflects the excellence of the care they receive at UT MD Anderson," said Chris McKee, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at UT MD Anderson. "Our new facilities will be innovative, agile, adaptable and beautiful, and they will allow us to care for more patients, more effectively – in an environment that enhances healing and well-being. We are building for our future and for every patient who will be counting on us."