Bernhard Leads Infrastructure Design for New Arkansas Cancer Center

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The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently celebrated the completion of a new Radiation Oncology Center at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Bernhard designed the facilities’ system infrastructure and all clinical portions of this groundbreaking project.

The UAMS Radiation Center features new treatment technology, including the first Philips Spectral Computed Tomography (CT) scanner in the United States and the Proton Center of Arkansas, a collaboration between UAMS, Baptist Health, Arkansas Children’s and Proton International that will begin treating patients in the fall.

“This is the most sophisticated, cutting-edge radiation delivery technology available in the United States,” said Fen Xia, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center. “Each machine is specialized and designed to treat specific types of cancer in the body.”

The new Radiation Oncology Center includes 58,000 square feet of treatment space built to accommodate three new linear accelerators that customize radiation delivery based on the type and stage of a patient’s cancer.

Bernhard teams began work on this project in the spring of 2020 along with six other consultants and six medical equipment vendors. Due to the highly sophisticated nature of the project, the teams required a heightened level of coordination and detail.

The $65-million facility features the following treatment rooms, which make it a premier cancer treatment facility for Arkansas:

  • One Proton Therapy Treatment Room
  • Four Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Rooms
  • One High Dose Radiography (HDR) Room
  • Two Computerized Tomography (CT) Rooms

“The opening of this facility marks an unprecedented commitment to the future of cancer treatment in Arkansas and the region,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA. “The innovative therapies and advanced technology available here place UAMS among the top centers worldwide at the forefront of cancer treatment.”

The Radiation Oncology Center is also the only cancer center in Arkansas to offer Ethos Adaptive Therapy, a unique form of X-Ray radiation that adapts to daily changes in a tumor’s shape and position over the course of treatment.

UAMS has been a client of Bernhard for 20 years, and the completion of the Radiation Oncology Center marks another significant accomplishment in the long-standing partnership.

“Success is not just about the result, it’s about the journey we take as a team,” said Alex Halloran, Director of Engineering Design at Bernhard. “The success of this project lies in the collective dedication, ingenuity, and perseverance of every team member. The Bernhard team did a fantastic job of delivering an incredible outcome for a valued client.”