NYPC south facade. Image via NYCEDC

East Harlem’s New York Proton Center (NYPC), a 115,300-square-foot and $238 million advanced cancer treatment facility (225 E. 126th Street), looks like it’s on track for its expected opening in early 2019. During a December 20 preview event, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO James Patchett, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer were given the opportunity to see the construction progress of the facility, the first proton beam therapy facility in New York State, which is anticipated to serve 1,500 patients a year when it opens. 

NYPC north facade. Image via NYCEDC

Rendering of NYPC lobby. Image via NYCEDC

Gantry patient room. Image via NYCEDC

The south facade of NYPC. Image by Kreg Holt via NYCEDC

NYPC, part of the East 125th Street Development that will bring affordable housing, jobs and commercial space to East Harlem, will provide patients with advanced, state-of-the-art cancer treatment in the form of targeted radiation and beam therapy. It will be operated by three New York healthcare institutions — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Montefiore Health System, Mount Sinai Health System and ProHEALTH Proton Management, LLC — and is being developed by Murphy & McManus, in collaboration with VOA Associates Incorporated (design consultant) and the Gilbane Building Company (general contractor).

Inside the patient treatment room. Image by Kreg Holt via NYCEDC

Inside the patient treatment room. Image by Kreg Holt via NYCEDC

“Having the first Proton Center ever in the state to be debuted in El Barrio/East Harlem is a welcome change and will put this neighborhood on the map as an area where new cutting-edge technology is found,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverto. “It’s my hope that with this Center, more and more leading healthcare institutions will look to El Barrio as a place to invest. I want to thank EDC in true partnership with us and for their collaboration and their vision to bring this state-of-the-art treatment facility to the community.”

Press tour of NYPC. Images via NYCEDC

Currently, there are only 25 proton centers in the United States. The nearest one for New Yorkers is located in Somerset, New Jersey, according to a NYCEDC press release. In the coming year, the proton beam equipment will be installed. When it opens, NYPC will also create 125 permanent jobs and 14 contract service jobs, in addition to providing roughly 16 internships a year.

Next, see what other projects are coming to life around New York City.