North Texas will have competing proton-therapy facilities by 2015. Dallas-based Texas Oncology, supported by McKesson Specialty Health; and Baylor Health Enterprises, an affiliate of Baylor Health Care System, announced Friday it will build a $105 million proton therapy facility in Irving.

As RealPoints reported in July, UT Southwestern plans to operate a 100,000-square foot proton therapy center near its Medical District campus in Dallas.

The 50,000-square-foot Irving facility—which will be half the cost and half the size of the UT Southwestern facility—will be located at 1501 W. Royal Lane. Company officials say construction will begin in 2013; they anticipate the first patients will be treated in late 2015. Final economic incentives are pending approvals later this month by Irving City Council and Dallas County Utility and Reclamation District.

The healthcare organizations favored the Irving location because it was equidistant to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, and convenient to nearby hotels. The partnership announced its intention to build the facility in June 2011.

“This is a landmark day for cancer patients,” said Chris Wallace, president and CEO, Irving Economic Development Partnership. “The proton therapy facility will immediately make Irving-Las Colinas and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex a destination for world-class medical and cancer care services. We are proud that Baylor, Texas Oncology and McKesson Specialty Health have elected to build such a distinguished and coveted facility in Irving.”

The facility will provide services through Texas Oncology. It’s expected employ about 50 people.

Houston-based Linbeck Group has been selected to build the facility, which is being designed by Dallas-based RTKL Associates.

For additional details, please see Steve Jacob’s report at D Healthcare Daily.