Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has been selected to design the Ben Stelter Proton Facility and Neuroscience Centre of Excellence in Edmonton, Canada’s first cancer care facility offering proton therapy.

Located near the University of Alberta Cross Cancer Institute and Stollery Children’s Hospital, the centre will be owned and operated by WestCan Proton Therapy, and Highcroft Healthcare Solutions will manage the financing and development of the project. The University of Pennsylvania Department of Radiation Oncology will provide clinical education, training, and standards to support the delivery of safe and quality care.

"We couldn’t be more proud of our industry partners who are bringing their expertise to this project. Stantec offers a wealth of experience in delivering projects that set a new standard in excellence,” Gordon Baltzer, CEO of WestCan Proton Therapy. “At WestCan, we are dedicated to providing the very best in cancer treatment. This facility will ensure that proton therapy is accessible for all Canadians and will serve as a model for future projects around the world."

First to bring proton therapy to Canada Proton therapy treatment is considered more effective than traditional radiation thanks to its precision, an attribute that also significantly reduces the side-effects experienced by patients. It is particularly helpful in treating pediatric cancers. Requiring several visits, sometimes every day for a series of weeks, proton therapy uses large and powerful technology that can be scary for patients who are at their most vulnerable. This new facility will focus on alleviating that anxiety through thoughtful design that focuses on supporting the patient journey and the health and well-being of the care teams working there.

Historically, patients with cancer who needed proton therapy treatment had to seek care out of the country at significant expense to the patient and health care system. The new centre will offer local world-class cancer treatment delivery at a substantial cost savings to the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services.

"This project is a first not only for the Edmonton region, but a first for Canada - and Stantec is the right partner to take on the incredible design we expect for this centre of excellence. We take immense pride in being the chosen location for this remarkable facility, and we’re equally proud that a home-grown and global success story has been selected to lead its design,” said Malcolm Bruce, CEO for Edmonton Global. “This project further cements the Edmonton region’s position as a hub for life sciences. With world-leading research, talent, and facilities, the Edmonton region is attracting investment and fostering a vibrant ecosystem for groundbreaking research and development."

The Ben Stelter Foundation, a charity focused on pediatric cancer research, advanced medical equipment, special patient experiences, and venture philanthropy, is raising funds for the facility. Major industry-leading partners and contributors including The University of Pennsylvania Department of Medicine, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Edmonton Global, The Stollery Charitable Foundation, and many other community-based supporters play a part in bringing this investment to the Edmonton region.

“With Stantec headquartered in Edmonton, we are honored to bring this first of its kind, pioneering facility to a community we know so well,” said Tariq Amlani, senior principal and Canadian Health sector leader for Stantec. “We understand how proton therapy facilities are transforming cancer care and are honored to support clinicians to better serve their patients with innovative, life-saving treatment.”

Improving health through design Stantec is the world’s leading expert in the design of cancer centers, with a dedicated team who have delivered more than 120 facilities around the globe, including over 30 specialty centers dedicated to proton therapy. Noteworthy projects designed by Stantec include the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Center in Calgary, AB; MD Anderson Cancer Center New Proton Therapy Center Expansion in Houston, TX; New York Proton Center in New York, NY; Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center in Washington, DC; Inova Schar Institute Proton Center in Fairfax, VA; Proton International at University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, AL; Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital in Dubai, UAE, and Hefei Particle Therapy Medical Center in Hefei City, China. Learn more about Stantec’s cancer care design work here.