• Posted: November 12, 2018
• Construction Technology

Within the sub-basement of the Bernard Mitchell Hospital, encased in a six-foot concrete vault, lies one of the only operational cyclotrons in the United States belonging to an academic institution. The University of Chicago can be proud of its brand new, 25-ton scientific instrument utilized by the University for cancer research. The electrical build-out portion of this unique space was performed by Canino Electric Co, of Westmont IL.

The Cyclotron machine was first invented in the 1930’s after Earnest Rutherford had first bombarded the nucleus of an atom in order to transmute it into a different element. Because naturally occurring radioactive particles weren’t as common and did not possess a large enough amount of energy for a spectrum of nuclear physics experiments, Rutherford pressed scientists to discover an instrument that could harness a ‘copious supply’ of particles containing even more energy. The cyclotron can produce as many as 1,100,000-volt protons. Today, there are very few properly functioning Cyclotrons in the U.S.

Before installing this new machine in Chicago, students at University of Chicago had to utilize a Cyclotron facility all the way out in Minnesota for their research. Isotopes break down over-time when transported from remote processing labs, so the proximity and accessibility of this new installation serves an array of benefits for the researchers involved with molecular research. When they can be made locally, the initial “dosage” requirement doesn’t have to be as high because there is less breakdown. Having the cyclotron installed in the basement of the local hospital provides a far better allocation of resources and helps to make a smaller footprint in the long-run, reducing both financial and environmental costs for the university.

In total, the project was divided into four areas, together covering 9,500 total square feet. It includes the cyclotron vault, its adjacent power supply room, a segment of additional laboratory rooms housing equipment for experimentation, and the production of pharmaceutical materials, as well as a separate contained area used for the purpose of imaging small lab animals.
Canino Electric’s team consisted of six union electrical workers with specific training and expertise. These individuals were required to work within an aggressive schedule and to be prepared for any major transitions within the project plan. Installing this major piece of equipment and creating adequate space to sustain its power potential was no ordinary job. Because the cyclotron emits radiation and weighs an astounding 25 tons, the installation process required many safety precautions.

Working closely with the cyclotron facility manager and the construction manager, Canino’s foreman, Hubert Fonou, ensured all electrical work was performed safely, accurately and efficiently, and in coordination with the other trades such as the iron workers installing rebar, the concrete workers pouring six feet thick walls/ceiling, as well as with the equipment’s installation team moving and powering-up this 25-ton machine.

A new generator distribution and auxiliary/control room filled the adjacent power supply room. The team installed 4-inch PVC conduits and a pits system consisting of traveling paths from the cyclotron to the processing labs for power, controls, and piping. These conduits also served to transfer isotopes from the cyclotron to the processing labs. The placement of these conduits had to be accurately measured at certain angles so that any isotope leakage from the experiment could not travel in a direct path through the conduit and tamper with experimental research data.

The hospital remained fully functional during the six months of installation, requiring a tremendous amount of planning and implementation in order to keep the power on in the main building while simultaneously upgrading the switchboard to have the electrical capacity for the new facility. During this process, the existing utility services could not be affected. Temporary power sources were installed to adjacent labs so as not to affect their operation. Existing spaces were being demolished while new spaces were being precisely built within them. The new upgraded 480V mechanical distribution and accompanying fire alarm system were installed during this time.

Despite all of the project’s unique angles and scheduling demands, Canino Electric’s team provided stellar work ethic while performing their role in completing the project in as little as six months with no injuries and no interruption to the operations of the hospital. The cancer research industry has transformed drastically. It is not solely based on the revolutionary research data scientists have discovered; it is a joint effort that can only be made possible through the innovation and hard labor of individuals who help construct and install such unique scientific equipment.