Duke University Proton Center

Project Location: Durham, North Carolina

Project Size: 45,000 SF

An anonymous donor has made a $50 million gift to Duke University Health System toward the development of a proton beam therapy center. The donation is the largest philanthropic gift received by Duke University Health System.

“This is a historic gift, both for Duke and for the state of North Carolina,” said Vincent E. Price, Ph.D., president of Duke University. “The Duke Proton Center will have a profound impact on cancer care in our region, and we are very grateful for the generous donor support that is making these advances possible.”

Duke’s proton beam therapy facility is expected to open by 2029, with a total projected cost of $120 million. At capacity, it is projected to provide proton therapy to about 800 patients each year.

Work in progress by John Jessen in collaboration with Legion Healthcare Partners.

Services Provided

Project Management

We oversee your project from initial planning through first patient treatment, coordinating specialized teams and managing the complex 3-5 year timeline these facilities demand.

Owner Representation

We advocate for your interests throughout the development process, ensuring that equipment selections, site decisions, and budget allocations align with your long-term operational goals.

Subject Matter Expert Advisory

As the world's leading proton therapy architects, we guide your decisions with experience that saves time, money, and prevents costly mistakes.

Feasibility Studies

We analyze your site conditions, financial parameters, and operational requirements to determine whether your proton therapy center vision is buildable and sustainable.

About John Jessen

John Jessen, AIA has over 40 years of experience helping people execute proton therapy projects worldwide. In 1994, he started and ran VOA (now Stantec) Proton Therapy Practice in Washington DC, and over the decades he built the largest proton design team in the world.