Building Walls to Breakdown Cancer

The first of three new radiation therapy projects planned for Alberta, the Jack Ady Cancer Centre has made it easier for southern Alberta residents to obtain radiation therapy.

As the structural engineer for this very important project, we worked collaboratively with the prime consultant and sub-consultants in coordinating the design and detailing of the bunker and renovations to the cancer centre within the existing building. Placement of the two vault radiation treatment bunker is in a restrictive site, which required careful design to ensure the bunker does not adversely affect the adjacent building.

To aide in quality control for concrete materials during construction, we visited Ontario to tour a site where a radiation treatment bunker was being constructed. We also engaged a concrete materials specialist who was involved in other cancer centre projects in Alberta to develop cast-in-place concrete and concrete quality assurance and quality control specifications. Recognizing the importance of radiation shielding, we made sure that concrete dimensional tolerances specified were clearly outlined and concrete specifications, testing, and mockups ensured minimum concrete densities would be met. Two Varian linear accelerators were installed.