Crews make steady progress on MRI and linear accelerator project
The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre is seeing exciting progress in the project to replace the hospital's linear accelerator and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit.
One of the most visible signs of progress took place early on July 4 when a large construction crane carefully manoeuvred the WCVM new 3 Tesla (3T) MRI unit off a transport truck and through the air before lowering it down through a hole in the college building's roof.
A month earlier, the new linear acclerator and related equipment were delivered to the WCVM. A few days later, another important arrival was the chiller system — a critical piece of equipment that keeps the MRI machine at a consistent temperature during operation. MRI units must be kept in a very cold environment (about -270 Celsius) to operate properly and safely.
By mid-July, crews had completed much of the area's construction and renovations with work shifting to targeted installation projects in collaboration with technical teams from the project's various suppliers. Following equipment installation, WCVM clinical teams will be involved in training and commissioning of the new technologies.
The major construction project, which is scheduled for completion in September 2025, will cost $9 million — much of which will be covered through generous gifts from WCVM donors. This exciting initiative includes extensive renovations to the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment suites, followed by installation of the new linear accelerator and MRI unit.
Visit the VMC construction page to view project updates.
