Marlborough, Mass – The 14,500 square foot UMass Memorial Cancer Center at the Marlborough Hospital celebrated its pre-opening with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, September 10th in Marlborough, MA. Featured speakers at the event included Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care; John Polanowicz, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services; Giles Whalen, MD, Interim Director of UMass Memorial Cancer Center of Excellence; and Candra Szymanski, Interim President and CEO of Marlborough Hospital.
Tocci Building Companies (Tocci), a Boston-area construction manager and recognized leader in virtual design and construction solutions, facilitated the intense intellectual collaboration of the Cancer Center under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contract. The Tocci-led team assumed full responsibility for the design, construction, medical equipment and final operating capability of the medical infusion and radiation oncology care facility. In partnering with S/L/A/M Architects, technical consultants, and several other subcontractors, Tocci’s use of IPD ensured smooth construction and optimized results throughout the project’s development.
The UMass Memorial Cancer Center marks the first healthcare project of New England to be completed under IPD. “All team members on the project worked toward the same objectives because mutually agreed upon goals were identified from the beginning,” noted John Tocci, Chief Enabling Officer of Tocci, commenting on the benefits of having an IPD contract. “The use of IPD maximized efficiency throughout all phases of the project.”
Tuesday’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony also highlighted the state-of-the-art technology that the Cancer Center would bring to the area. In particular, the hospital’s new addition will include a linear accelerator for radiation oncology, a CT stimulator for diagnostic imaging, and outpatient medical oncology services. “Having actual patients on the planning team enabled the builders to understand the challenges they faced and to incorporate their insights into the project,” added Joe Cavallaro, Project Manager at Tocci Building Companies. The technology of the linear accelerator will allow doctors to increase patient safety and comfort during complex treatments such as radiosurgery and tumor removal.
Featured speaker Candra Szymanski, Interim President and CEO of Marlborough Hospital, specifically applauded Tocci’s use of Virtual Design and Construction/Building Information Modeling (VDC/BIM) technology. “Tocci expertise with VDC/BIM technology enabled the team to guarantee project efficiency prior to execution,” Szymanski said. “They were the standout firm for the project due to their proven ability to successfully evaluate buildings and coordinate design and construction through 3D technology.”
The hospital’s new Cancer Center brings new hope to many patients in the area. The addition will allow residents and visitors of Marlborough and Hudson, as well as the MetroWest area and the 495 Corridor, full access to comprehensive cancer treatments. “Having an option for close-to-home, high-quality cancer care is one of our top priorities,” said Szymanski. “The community is enormously grateful for the expansion of our cancer services.”