The 90,000 SF Provision Center for Proton Therapy is the first cancer treatment center of its kind in Tennessee, and only the second in the Southeastern United States. The Center features three treatment rooms able to treat up to 1,500 patients a year, and provisions for two additional treatment rooms for future use. This cutting edge proton beam treatment is provided utilizing cyclotron particle accelerator technology, offering the most advanced cancer treatment in the world. The facility features fixed beam gantries, as well as rotating gantries for the treatment of more complex cancers. Other features of the building include imaging rooms, exam rooms, training areas, serene waiting rooms, offices and support space, as well as a beautifully landscaped campus with walking trails and benches for those who are visiting the center.
Due to the highly complex nature of the equipment and technology provided in the Provision Center, several design challenges were overcome, such as coordinating the placement of utilities in the extremely thick concrete walls surrounding the treatment rooms. It is required to have six to twelve feet thick reinforced concrete shielding walls provided around the treatment rooms to contain the high energy radiation being emitted by the equipment. To ensure that exact planning and placement of the utilities was provided before the concrete was poured for the shielding walls, 3D modeling software (Revit) was utilized to model the optimal paths, and identifying any potential conflicts that needed to be resolved before construction.
Engineering Highlights
- Extensive system evaluations were conducted very early on to determine the most cost effective mechanical systems for the highly specialized cyclotron equipment
- All ductwork, pipes and trenches within the shielding walls were designed utilizing a z-bend configuration to minimize radiation leakage from the gantries
- Zero margin for error in the placement of utilities that were encased in the concrete radiation shielding walls of the treatment rooms that are over 8 feet thick
- Extensive coordination required with multiple cyclotron IBD requirements in order to consolidate the mechanical and electrical systems serving the euipment
- Stringent design required for the higher temperature control tolerances needed to connect both the HVAC cooling system, and the cyclotron magnet cooling system
- Close coordination of electrical equipment for two incoming services: one for the building load, and a separate service the proton therapy equipment
- Provided post-occupancy mechanical systems trending to verify the systems are operating within the IBD design criteria.
