The heart of Austin is saying a slow goodbye to an old friend. For the University of Texas, it's out with the old as the Frank Erwin Center's demolition churns on. Dubbed "The Drum" for its distinctive round shape, the center once pulsed with the excitement of sports games and events since its opening in 1977. Now, the teardown is picking up momentum following the venue's final curtain call on February 28, 2022, when it hosted its last Longhorns basketball game.
Demolition crews are hard at work, stripping the arena down as the University of Texas looks to the future. Instead of opting to implode the structure, the crew has decided to pull carefully apart the building—a decision driven by safety considerations due to the site's proximity to vital city infrastructure and the Dell Medical School, SpawGlass project manager Parker Blaschke told KVUE. Efforts to dismantle the iconic venue have already seen the removal of most of the roof, with an estimated 80% of materials slated to ultimately be recycled, including 4,000 tons of steel and 135,000 tons of concrete.
In a landscape of change, UT's decision to move forward with a controlled deconstruction underscores the end of an era for a building engorged with cultural and athletic history. “Every time you bring up the Erwin Center someone has a memory or great story to tell about an event they saw there," Dan Cook, UT executive director of planning, design, and construction, according to KVUE.
While the past reverberates through the partially standing structure, the future is about to take shape. With hefty recycling efforts underway, the old arena is destined to give way to something new—a medical facility that promises to enhance the city's healthcare infrastructure. "Being able to have that world-class facility delivers the care that as the city of Austin in growing the population will continue to need great medical care it seems like it’s a real win-win," Cook described the prospects in an interview with KVUE.
The full demolition is expected to wrap up by the summer of 2024, followed by the final clearing of the site by October of the same year, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.
