Proton Therapy Equipment Installation Moves Florida Project Forward

DPR’s team building the new proton therapy treatment facility at Baptist Health's Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital celebrated a major milestone with the installation of the facility’s cyclotron and gantry.

The 55-ton cyclotron and 121-ton gantry, installed by the equipment vendor IBA, are the “action” elements of the future proton facility. Installation also provided a true test of DPR’s precision work on the facility, with both pieces of equipment being threaded through small roof openings with only an inch or two of tolerance.

“We’re talking about a piece of equipment that costs more than $20 million and is the essential component of the new cancer care center,” said Rudy Amato, who helps lead DPR’s efforts on proton therapy centers. “So, every element that has gone into construction to prepare for this extremely technical work, like miles of MEP within thick concrete walls and utility connections, all has to fit perfectly.”

IBA performed two critical crane picks, including one tandem pick to install the equipment. Getting two “perfect picks,” however, takes coordination.

"Proton projects demand precise planning and execution, but when done right from the start, teams can deliver efficiently and avoid costly rework," Amato said. “Given the complexity, we partnered very closely with the equipment vendor, coordinating on more than 200 pages of additional drawings beyond our contract scope to ensure complete alignment and eliminate surprises.”

Coordination also focused on ensuring the larger site was prepared to receive delivery of the equipment on a 158-foot long truck, while implementing the necessary safety controls to avoid disrupting the ongoing hospital operations. With the installation complete, DPR can now move to the final phases of work to complete the construction later this year so that the facility can begin serving proton therapy patients in early 2026.

DPR recently completed a similar proton addition project in Charlotte, NC, is under way on a proton facility in Connecticut, and is in the preconstruction phase of another in the Bay Area.

“When you think about it, it’s not just about a successful installation,” said Amato. “It means community members who need this treatment will receive it on time.”