The Proton Beam Therapy Centre

Bouygues UK, Bouygues Bâtiment International’s subsidiary based in the United Kingdom, was entrusted with the design and construction of the Grafton Way Building at University College London Hospital (UCLH), establishing a world-class oncology hub in central London. This cutting-edge facility is among the first in the United Kingdom to provide proton beam therapy, delivering highly precise radiotherapy treatments and enhancing the hospital’s position as a leading national and international cancer centre.

The centre integrates a broad spectrum of specialist inpatient services, located in one of London’s largest basements, an engineering feat, with a 25-metre-deep excavation totalling 83,000 m³. The seven-storey above-ground structure, comparable in height to Tower Bridge, accommodates:

• 82 single NHS beds and 30 isolation rooms 
• 52 private single bedrooms 
• 10-bed ICU/HDU 
• 20-bed ward (23-hour operation) 
• 8 operating theatres in a state-of-the-art Short Stay Surgical Centre 

Critical care and imaging facilities further strengthen UCLH's leading role in UK specialist healthcare. The project was delivered while maintaining uninterrupted operations to the rest of the campus, notably through the careful relocation and upgrade of vital Vacuum Insulated Evaporator (VIE) tanks supplying oxygen to the campus. Advanced 4D BIM modelling and proactive stakeholder engagement underpinned every phase, enabling precise planning, risk mitigation, and coordination across teams.

Construction in a live hospital environment required rigorous risk management and seamless coordination with UCLH and campus operations. Bouygues UK led regular consultations with client teams, emergency services, and local stakeholders, ensuring all method statements and logistics plans met safety and operational continuity requirements.

Key innovations included:

• Use of sophisticated vibration and noise sensors on neighbouring properties, with adaptive thresholds aligned to local business needs.
• Implementation of advanced displacement monitoring during basement works, minimising impact and maintaining structural integrity.
• “Build before Build” methodology, employing 4D BIM to visualise, analyse, and optimise the construction sequence, logistics, and off-site fabrication.

The installation of highly sensitive Proton Beam Therapy equipment required close collaboration with the Trust’s chosen supplier, employing propped slabs and precision cranage 25 metres below ground.