Award-Winning Project Showcases the Future of Cancer Care

The Moffitt Ambulatory Center + Proton Therapy facility is the cornerstone of the new Hope and Innovation District in Pasco County, Florida. Spanning 775 acres, the medical campus is designed to push the boundaries of cancer research and expand access to groundbreaking treatments.

Reshaping the future of cancer care is a tall order — one that demands a strong foundation, built to high technical standards. Baker Construction co-workers were up to the task, completing complex concrete work that met rigorous structural, shielding, and scheduling requirements.

Baker Construction’s engagement began in November 2023, with a scope that covered two critical structures:

In total, the project required 8,700 cubic yards of concrete and 500 tons of reinforcing steel. Baker Construction self-performed the entire formwork package and coordinated with Southern Post Tension for rebar installation and CARJA Construction for concrete finishing.

A Technically Demanding Build

The project required advanced concrete techniques, precision planning, and continuous monitoring to meet both structural and radiation shielding requirements. The proton therapy center required mass concrete to manage thermal gradients and mass shielding concrete mixed with high-density aggregates to block radiation exposure.

To ensure safety and durability, Baker Construction developed a thermal control plan, including temperature monitoring, cooling strategies, and optimized mix designs. Every concrete placement was preceded by a pre-pour inspection to verify formwork integrity, rebar placement, and compliance with specs.

Massive Walls, Tight Constraints

Massive wall configurations up to 10′ thick posed major constructability challenges, and not just because of their size. They also had unique design and load requirements.

Baker Construction custom-engineered a formwork system to support the tremendous weight while maintaining alignment and stability. The project team carefully selected materials and reinforcement strategies to prevent deflection or movement during placement. Every concrete placement was meticulously planned — accounting for sequencing, vibration technique, and thermal behavior — to manage hydration heat, avoid cold joints, and reduce the risk of shrinkage or cracking.

The jobsite itself posed logistical hurdles. Working on a developing pad with limited infrastructure required detailed coordination of truck routes, equipment access, staging areas, and crane operations.

Innovation Drove Alignment

Innovation played a key role in the project’s success. Baker Construction’s virtual design and construction and Building Information Modeling teams used digital modeling and visualization tools to detect issues early and optimize constructability.

The project team also developed pre-pour flip books — visual breakdowns of every pour sequence — for the design team, general contractor, subcontractors, and field crews. These guides served as a central reference tool, keeping everyone aligned on formwork layout, rebar placement, embeds, and sequencing. The proactive strategy reduced rework, improved coordination, and streamlined execution on site.

Baker Construction completed its scope ahead of schedule, clearing the way for early steel erection and critical equipment installation

Setting the Standard in Healthcare Construction

The Moffitt Ambulatory Center + Proton Therapy project exemplifies what Baker Construction brings to the table in high-performance healthcare construction: technical precision, innovation, and a relentless focus on quality. Baker Construction’s Incident and Injury Free safety framework, combined with the team’s uncompromising approach to safety standards and practices, resulted in zero recordable incidents on the project.

In demonstrating Baker Construction’s ability to manage complex challenges, the project earned an ABC Gulf Coast Excellence in Construction Eagle Award.