Project Category:

Healthcare Facilities

Client:

Riverside Regional Medical Center

Architect:

Paul Finch and Associates

Norfolk, Virginia

 

Project Delivery:

Design-Bid-Build

 

Contract Amount:

$1.2 Million

 

Completion Date:

March 2007

 

 

Gamma Knife Vault

Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News, Virginia

 

 

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Tesoro constructed a start-of-the-art, cobalt-source radio-surgery unit for the non-invasive treatment of tumors and cancer of the brain. This project entailed the complete retrofit of an existing concrete linear accelerator vault to receive Gamma Knife technology at Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News Virginia. This is only the third such installation in the state of Virginia.

Due to the significant weight and extremely low vibration tolerance of the Gamma Knife equipment, the vault required substantial structural upgrades. The existing structural concrete floor was removed and additional helical piling was installed to a depth of 35 feet. New pile caps and a new structural floor were then constructed.
 
The project also included cutting an exterior access through the 5-foot thick walls into the vault and installation of led-shielded doors. The access not only accommodated installation of the equipment, but also will permit future refueling of the cobalt source.

Significant upgrades to the vault security system were made as required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to safeguard the cobalt source, which is an alternative use radioactive material. All work was accomplished in an occupied space with functioning linear accelerators in adjacent vaults on both sides of the Gamma Knife project vault. Tesoro Corporation was hand picked by the owner for this work due to proven capability and past performance on high technology hospital projects in occupied spaces.