Delivering Hope: DPR Builds Connecticut’s First Proton Center

The arrival of a proton therapy cyclotron and gantry in Wallingford, CT marked a turning point for cancer care in New England. As the first facility of its kind in the state, and a game changer for New England residents, the Connecticut Proton Center will bring advanced cancer treatment options closer to home for millions.

More than a construction milestone, the cyclotron and gantry deliveries represented the culmination of collaboration, innovation and teamwork by DPR Construction and its partners, all dedicated to bringing cutting-edge proton therapy to the Northeast.

Designed as a two-story medical office building (MOB), the building houses a single-vault IBA Proteus One system, making it the second proton therapy center in New England.

At the heart of the facility is the cyclotron particle accelerator, which generates protons that are then delivered via the gantry, for highly advanced radiation therapy. This technology allows oncologists to target tumors with remarkable precision, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue and organs. The facility will treat patients with spinal tumors, brain tumors, inoperable tumors, pediatric tumors and other complex cancers. 

Support spaces include clinical areas, proton support, reception, staff and utility spaces, and a CT simulation suite used to precisely locate and map the tumors.

The cyclotron, supplied and operated by IBA of Belgium, is a rare piece of technology—this is only the eighth of its kind in the country. It will run nearly around the clock, calibrated daily by an onsite team of physicists and IBA technicians before the first patient arrives each morning. At full capacity, the center will treat up to 40 patients a day, five days a week, offering hope to families across the region.

Preparing for the cyclotron and gantry deliveries was no small feat—it required six months of meticulous planning and precision execution. “During this time, the team collaborated closely with designers, physicists and trade partners to build a highly sophisticated concrete vault—a true bunker—capable of containing radioactive particles and shielding its surroundings. Perfection was non-negotiable; every detail had to be flawless because once the concrete was poured, the MEP was set in stone,” said Project Manager, Rudy Amato. 

Every detail mattered, from sequencing massive concrete pours to adapting to harsh New England winters, ensuring the structure meets stringent safety and performance standards. One of the top healthcare builders in the U.S., DPR Construction’s expertise was critical at every stage. 

• Reduced Number of Concrete Pours: The initial construction plan for the proton therapy vault called for 16 separate concrete pours—a sequence based on standard mass concrete practices and uninfluenced by project-specific constraints. Collaborating early with the concrete contractor, the team optimized the sequence and combined pours, reducing the total from sixteen to eight. This streamlined approach enabled larger pours and saved approximately 25 days during the concrete phase of the project.
• New England Weather: Cold New England winters posed significant challenges, especially for the curing of the massive concrete vault. The team embedded temperature sensors in each pour, monitored conditions constantly, kept to within 20 degrees of ambient temperature, and used blankets to keep the curing process within strict tolerances. This required monitoring the surface temperature of the concrete, the core temperature of the concrete, and the ambient temperature of the air. “We developed a hopscotch pour sequence to avoid adjacent curing and adapt to the unpredictable winter temperature swings,” says Amato. “That flexibility kept the project moving, even in the toughest conditions.”
• Foundation Strength: To support the 55-ton cyclotron, the vault foundation was excavated down to bedrock and filled with 900 cubic yards of high-strength concrete. By forming and pouring directly on rock instead of backfilling, DPR ensured full compliance with the structural engineer’s requirements, while maintaining safety and cost efficiency.
• Prefab and Technology: Prefabrication and advanced 3D modeling were critical to the success of the project, especially in coordinating thousands of feet of conduit runs within the vault. Using DPR’s virtual design and construction (VDC) tools, the team verified conduit bends and length manufactured off-site and collaborated with IBA engineers in Belgium to ensure perfect alignment.

“The model was so precise it allowed us and the team in Belgium to match the mechanical and electrical connections exactly,” said Senior Superintendent, Bill Mullen. “Among thousands of conduit pieces, our 360-degree camera even spotted one missing section before the pour.”

After the concrete was poured, the team surveyed and measured every single conduit in the vault and submitted the data to IBA to confirm compliance.

To maintain radiation safety, the vault design avoided straight lines through walls. After the cyclotron was placed in the vault, those openings were infilled with two layers of precast element beams, staggered, to prevent any direct radiation paths. 

With cyclotron installation, commissioning and final inspections underway, patient treatments are expected to begin in Fall 2026. The delivery of the cyclotron is more than a construction milestone—it’s a promise kept to the community, to patients and to the future of cancer care in New England. Through precision engineering, collaboration and purpose-driven building, DPR and its partners are helping bring lifesaving care closer to home.