Construction of the $1.4-billion Calgary Cancer Centre is on time and on budget, according to the Alberta government.
Work on the largest government infrastructure project in the province began in 2017. Four cranes and about 300 workers are currently on site with construction well underway on the lower levels, all five parkade levels and the first clinical areas of the centre.
Thirty per cent of the project’s total concrete, or 37,000 cubic metres – has been poured as work progresses on the 12-room radiation therapy department.
With a total concrete volume of 125,000 cubic metres, it will be the largest stand-alone cancer centre in Canada when it begins offering improved care for patients in 2023.
PCL Construction has removed about 450,000 square metres of material since the project’s groundbreaking and will continue with below-grade activities through 2019. Construction will continue until 2022.
The Tom Baker Centre reached full capacity in 2003. Since then, cancer rates have continued to rise at a rate of thee to five per cent a year. Every day, 54 Albertans learn they have cancer, a number that is expected to grow to more than 70 by 2030 due to aging and population growth.
“All Albertans deserve top-quality, innovative cancer care. I’m so excited to see continued progress on the Calgary Cancer Centre that gives hope and increased access to care to patients and families in southern Alberta. We continue to fulfil our promise to provide life-saving health services in communities across the province,” said Premier Rachel Notley.
Development of the radiation therapy department will continue later this year with the pouring of more than 10,000 cubic metres of concrete and the construction of 12 steel and concrete vaults. Each vault will have 1.8-metre-thick walls to protect patients and families from radiation exposure. This will nearly double the current Tom Baker Cancer Centre’s capacity to treat patients with radiation therapy – currently more than 3,300 a year – to meet an anticipated 60 per cent increase in demand by 2030.
The Calgary Cancer Centre will be integrated with the Foothills Medical Centre and will replace the aging Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
Services at the centre will include: outpatient cancer clinics, more than 100 patient exam rooms, 160 inpatient unit beds, more than 100 chemotherapy chairs, clinical and operational support services, 12 radiation vaults, with three more shelled in for future growth. There will also be a new on-site underground parking with 1,650 stalls.
