WALLINGFORD, CT — DPR Construction and its tri-venture partners Yale New Haven Health, Hartford HealthCare, and Proton International broke ground on the new Connecticut Proton Therapy Cancer Center in Wallingford, Connecticut. The first facility of its kind in the state, the center will bring advanced cancer treatment options closer to home for millions.
Located between Hartford and New Haven, the new facility will be a standalone, two-story proton therapy center providing advanced radiation therapy, pencil beam scanning, and the latest technology in proton therapy.
Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment that enables oncologists to precisely target tumors and specific areas with proton-generated radiation. This technique minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and organs. The therapy is administered from a reinforced concrete bunker, employing a system designed for safety and accuracy.
“Investing in proton therapy centers is crucial,” said Steve Sheahan, DPR’s Northeast Healthcare Core Market Leader. “Not only does the treatment provide cutting-edge oncology treatment options for cancer patients, but by minimizing radiation to healthy tissue, it can reduce the risk of developing secondary cancers, potentially providing for more positive outcomes in patients.”
The center provides local treatment to residents, bringing the care they need closer to home so patients do not have to travel to Boston and New York. In fact, Connecticut was recently ranked second in the country for overall access to health care and third in the country for quality of health care. There are only 93 operating proton centers globally, 45 in the United States, and one in New England.
| Your local Doosan Infracore Construction Equip dealer |
|---|
| Equipment East |
The building will include 25,000 square feet of space supporting clinical, administrative, and support spaces. As a self-performing general contractor, DPR is executing key scopes including drywall, waterproofing, firestopping, specialties, and labor support.
In addition to the tri-venture partners, DPR has collaborated with Stantec, BR+A, Goldstein-Milano, and Tighe & Bond through preconstruction and construction of this new project. The proton therapy equipment vendor is Belgium-based IBA, and the first patient is scheduled for fall of 2026.
