To construct a new ground-up four-story cancer institute for Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, crews had to relocate operational radiation equipment and build on top of an existing linear accelerator. Allowing the existing facility to continue providing unhindered operations during construction was critical, and many patients needed to be relocated within the existing facility.

The $39.8-million, 80,000-sq-ft facility, which broke ground in September 2019, features radiation therapy and chemotherapy infusion; medical and radiation oncology clinics; clinic space for visiting oncology specialists; an education center; an activity center; a diagnostics center; a laboratory; an onsite infusion pharmacy; a conference center; and a chapel.

To construct the atrium, crews worked 16-hour days, seven days per week for eight months. Given the intricacies of the design and detailed craftsmanship required in the atrium, an 80-ft-tall manlift was used to fully construct the fourth floor and ceiling. The third floor and below was constructed using multiple 45-ft-tall scissor lifts.

During summer 2020, the jobsite had to be shut down and secured six times due to named storms impacting coastal Louisiana. In September 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall and the project team responded within 24 hours. Despite losing 26 days of operation from the storm, the project still achieved substantial completion nearly two weeks ahead of schedule in October 2021.