Current Timeline
Current phase of upgrade process: MRI Control Room and facility finish out.
Completed:
Skyra Final Study Date: 12 March 2023
Start Construction: 13 March 2023
Skyra Ramp-down: 20 March 2023
Skyra Deinstall: 17 – 19 May 2023
Skyra Rig-out: 19 May 2023
Major BIC MRI suite renovations: mid-March – end-May 2023
Prisma Delivery and Rig-in: 4 June 2023
Prisma Mechanical Installation: 4 – 9 June 2023
MRI Suite finish-out: June 2023
Prisma System Calibrations: 5 – 14 July 2023
Prisma Ramp-to-field: 10 July 2023
In Progress:
Prisma Applications Training: 24 – 27 July 2023
In Progress:
BIC facility finish out: 31 July - Aug 4 2023
Upcoming:
Substantial Completion: 31 July 1 Aug 2023
Anticipated operational Date: 1 Sept 2023
Design / Construction Team
Doug Befroy - Director, Biomedical Imaging Center
Keith Westmoreland - Project Manager, Capital Planning & Construction
Ann Harasimowitz - Facilities Director, College of Natural Sciences
Construction - Linbeck
Prime / Structural Engineers - Datum
Architectural & Interiors - BGK/CO
Current Progress
7/1431/2023
1) The Our new 3T Siemens Prisma system installed just prior to ramp to field- installed and calibrated.
2) Finish-out of the Center beneath the access shaft drop-zone currently in progress.
3) Paving stones have been re-laid on the NHB patio, covering the location of the access shaft.
, 3) The first sets human brain images have been acquired.
3,4) The corridors are now open-plan throughout the Center and office-space for BIC staff has been refurbished.
5,6,7) The space under the drop-zone has been finished out with flexible lab / interview room spaces.
Project Look-ahead:
** 2-week look-ahead schedules for upcoming construction will be posted here weekly:
BIC Suite Redesign
Master Construction Schedule:
Skyra → Prisma Upgrade - FAQ
1) Why is the Skyra being upgraded ?
The Skyra was purchased for the BIC in 2012 and is at the end of its lifespan as a state-of-the-art MRI system. A new generation of hardware, electronics and software is available which will better support innovative MRI research.
2) What system is the Skyra being replaced with and what are its features ?
The Skyra will be replaced with a Siemens Prisma, their highest-specification 3T system which is ideally suited for neuroimaging and other MRI research. It features an improved cryostat (magnet), the best-performing gradient set on the market, enhanced shimming capabilities and XA line hardware / software enabling rapid MRI with improved signal/noise and greater spatial and/or temporal resolution than either Skyra or Vida systems. All RF coils currently available on the Skyra will be replicated – including the 32ch and 64ch Head/Neck coils – and RF transmit / receive architecture for X-nucleus applications (but not RF coils) will also be incorporated. A full range of software licenses and sequence libraries will be hosted including Simultaneous Multi-Slice (SMS, aka Multi-Band), Compressed SENSE, perfusion and ASL, MR Spectroscopy and more. Full lists of RF coils and sequences are available at the appropriate links.
3) How will the system be different to the Skyra ?
Both the Skyra and Prisma are 3T scanners, but the Prisma is a (slightly) physically bigger system. As a consequence the system may be in a slightly different location in the Scanner Room and the extent of the stray field (5 Gauss line) may increase marginally. The Prisma has a more powerful gradient set than the Skyra so certain scans may be louder. The new system will feature Siemens XA30 operating system so the console will have a completely new look and feel (identical to that of the 3T Vida in HDB).
4) What will the upgrade process / timeline be ?
Feb 2023: Preliminary BIC suite renovations
Mar 2023: Decommissioning of Skyra
Mar-May 2023: Renovations of 3T scanner / equipment / control rooms to accommodate Prisma
early June 2023: Delivery / install of Siemens 3T Prisma system
mid July 2023: System acceptance tests
July 2023: Final BIC suite refurbishment
Aug 2023: Installation / testing of User protocols
User training on XA30 hardware / software
Substantial completion of project and close-out
Sept 2023: BIC resumes full operations in NHB
A more accurate timeline will be posted when the design phase of the project is complete and updated regularly throughout construction.
5) Will I be able to continue my studies during the NHB renovations ?
YES – the upgrade process is being phased to ensure that most research in NHB can continue with minimal impact. Key Core Facilities in the NHB basement, including BIC, will remain operational. There may be occasional disruptions and schedule adjustments in order to perform critical construction, but the Skyra should remain in use until it is decommissioned. Planned disruptions will be communicated to Users in advance with as much notice as possible.
6) Will my scanner fees change ?
BIC will be undergoing its triennial Rate Review in the Summer / Fall of 2022, with new Resource Usage Fees set to come into effect for the 2022/23 Financial Year. These rates will be established based on current Center costs vs income, supported by a UT subsidy, and will be ratified and approved by the UT Office of Accounting. We do not expect the upgrade of the Skyra to a Prisma system to have any specific impact on scanner fees.
Community Updates
Community Update – 7/31/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB, FNT and WEL occupants,
After 6 months of construction, we are finally approaching the end of the project to upgrade the MRI in NHB.
Our new Siemens 3T Prisma MRI scanner has been fully installed and calibrated – we acquired our first human images with the system during Siemens training last week. The Center has been renovated with refurbished office and lab space and upgraded utilities have been installed for current and future scanners. Check out the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki for photos of all this work.
This week is the final full week of construction in NHB as Linbeck put the finishing touches on the facility renovations and hand the site back over to me.
The 2-week Look Ahead schedule shows the upcoming activities – details on the Wikipage. Please note that there has been a delay to the anticipated re-setting of the concrete lintel on the building fascia (scheduled for 8/1) although we are still hoping that this can be completed this week.
The BIC team are starting to re-equip the Center so that it is fully functional for research studies, and we plan to start on-boarding research groups from the middle of the month.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update – 7/19/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT and WEL occupants,
After a hectic few weeks, our new Siemens 3T Prisma MRI scanner is now fully installed and calibrated and was officially handed over to UT on 7/17/2023.
Only a couple of weeks of major construction remain as we complete the renovations to the BIC facility and return NHB to pre-construction status.
Activities over the next 2 weeks will be minimally disruptive and primarily involve finishing out the MRI Control Room and constructing the new lab and office spaces that lie under the access shaft drop-zone within the Center. Please check out the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki for photos of how things are progressing.
Siemens will be on-site next week to familiarize the BIC team with new system, after which we’ll begin onboarding users to commence scanning on the Prisma. If you’re a member of the BIC community, the team are currently developing a conversion training curriculum and we will distribute details of this process in the near future.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update – 6/14/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT and WEL occupants,
Despite the last-minute change of delivery date, our new Prisma MRI scanner was rigged into NHB on Sunday 6/4 and is now fully sited within the BIC – you can see photos of the rigging operation on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki.
Mechanical installation of the system was completed this past weekend and the cryostat was topped-up with liquid helium yesterday (6/13). We are now in the process of finishing out the MRI suite in preparation for system calibrations. Except for normal construction traffic and noise, there should be no significant building or community-wide impacts over the next 2 weeks. However, the building façade lintel is scheduled to be reinstalled on 6/21/23, which may temporarily restrict access along E 24th St while it is being hoisted into place.
Full details of all construction activities can be found on the Wiki page – please reach out if you have any queries on concerns.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update – 5/29/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT and WEL occupants,
The second major milestone in our MRI upgrade project has now been accomplished – on Friday, 5/19/2023 the Skyra MRI was removed from the basement of NHB using our new access shaft. The entire rigging operation ran extremely smoothly, and you can see photos of the process on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki.
This coming week we are preparing for the installation of our new Prisma system, a process that will involve significant remodelling of the MRI suite. The work will be confined to the BIC but may involve local outages as we re-route and upgrading existing utilities; otherwise, the building-wide impact will be limited to general construction noise. Full details can be found on the 2-week Look-Ahead schedule on our Wiki page.
The week will end with the rigging of the Prisma MRI into the BIC suite on the morning of Saturday, 6/3/2023, which should be another impressive technical operation. As previously, E 24th Street from Speedway to Gearing Hall (GEA) will be shut starting at 4am, with the equipment hoist anticipated to start at about 9am and completed by early afternoon. Again, the sidewalks along 24th St will be inaccessible, and NHB will only be accessible from the north and east sides of the building. Once the system is in the building and sited its mechanical installation will commence, which will likely take until 6/8.
Many thanks for your continued cooperation and patience through this process – I’m looking forward to having a shiny, new, state-of-the-art MRI scanner for the benefit of the UT imaging community.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update – 5/17/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT and WEL occupants,
This is a significant week for our MRI Upgrade project in NHB – the access shaft is ready for use and our 3T Skyra MRI system will be removed from BIC’s suite in the basement this Friday, 5/19/23. Please be aware that E 24th Street from Speedway to Gearing Hall (GEA) will be shut for this operation starting at 4am, with the equipment hoist anticipated to start at about 10am. The sidewalks along the street will be inaccessible, but the path along Painter Hall and Welch may still be used. NHB will only be accessible from the north and east sides of the building, so please plan accordingly if you need to enter the building.
Siemens have already started deinstalling the Skyra system in preparation for Friday, and the remainder of this week will involve final preparations to clear the drop-zone of scaffolding and equipment. Next week we will begin renovations to the MRI Control, Scanner and Equipment Rooms to prepare for the installation of the new 3T Prisma scanner at the beginning of June. With the exception of the rigging activity on 5/19, this work is confined to the BIC suite, so there should be no significant impacts on building occupants or the rest of campus.
Full details of upcoming activities can be found in the 2-week Look-Ahead schedule on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki, along with photos of current construction work.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update - 5/11/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT occupants,
We’ve had major progress over the past week on our renovations to NHB – saw-cutting of the patio was completed yesterday and we now have an opening for our access shaft into the BIC suite in the basement !! Visit the construction photo archive on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki to check out what’s happened. This marks the end of the most noisy and impactful work of the entire project, and the construction team and I really appreciate your cooperation and patience during this time.
The remainder of this week will involve the installation of the support structure for the shaft and the rerouting of the remaining ductwork that blocks the drop-zone. But all the major milestones that needed to be completed to swap the MRI systems have now been met. Final decommissioning of our Skyra MRI will occur at the beginning of next week, and it will be rigged out of the NHB basement on the morning of Friday, May 19th. Note that the whole of E 24th Street from Speedway to Gearing Hall (GEA) will be shut for this operation, and NHB will only be accessible from the north and east sides of the building. Full details of upcoming work can be found on the 2-week Look-Ahead schedule on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki.
Looking further ahead, we are still on track to rig-in and commence the installation our new 3T Prisma MRI scanner on Saturday, June 3rd. The next 4 weeks are going to be an eventful period for BIC, as we enter a new era for imaging research at UT Austin!!
Please get in touch if you have any queries or concerns.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update - 5/3/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT occupants,
We’ve made significant progress in the building renovations as we head towards the deinstallation and removal of the Skyra MRI from NHB, scheduled for 5/19. Shoring for the shaft from the basement to patio level is now in place, and concrete footings for the support structure will be poured this Friday / Saturday. This will enables us to saw-cut the access point through the patio itself at the end of this week – anticipate significant noise Wednesday – Friday for this activity. The structural steel for the drop-zone will be erected and assembled next week (5/8 – 5/12) – this will be loud but shouldn’t be as overtly impactful. Decommissioning of the Skyra system has begun and the renovations of the MRI Control Room will commence this week. Full details of the next 2 weeks’ activities can be found in the Look-Ahead schedule on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki. A revised master schedule for construction has also been posted reflecting the revised dates for Skyra rig-out and Prisma install that were announced last week.
We appreciate your cooperation as we move into this next phase which will be the most impactful stage of construction. Believe it or not, our new 3T Prisma MRI will be delivered one month from today !!
Please reach out if you have any questions,
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update - 4/26/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT occupants,
We have made a significant amount of progress on the renovations to NHB over that past 7-10 days in preparation for the upgrade of the BIC’s 3T MRI system. Those of you passing the building on 24th Street will have noticed that one of the lintels crossing the façade has been removed to permit access for the crane that will lift the MRI scanners into and out of the building. Paving slabs on the patio have also been removed and the location of the new access shaft into the basement is now clearly defined. Within the building, relocation of HVAC ductwork and water piping in the mezzanine level between the basement and 1st floor has begun to clear the drop-zone of the access shaft. Photos of this work can be found in our Construction Photo Archive on the BIC Wiki.
Upcoming work includes continued demolition of MEP utilities within the drop-zone at the mezzanine level and further preparation of the footings for the patio lid support structure – both of which may cause intermittent construction noise and vibrations in the BIC suite and adjoining areas. Looking further ahead, additional saw-cutting of the NHB patio is projected for May 2nd and 3rd, this work will be very-loud and impactful, but will start in the early morning and cease by 10am. Please check the 2-week look ahead schedule on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki for more details.
Unfortunately, due to an accumulation of minor administrative and construction delays, we have had to push back the installation date of the new Prisma MRI system. The decommissioned Skyra scanner will now be removed from NHB on Friday, May 19th, and due to the timing of the Memorial Day weekend the Prisma system will now be rigged into the building on Saturday, June 3rd. The updated project timeline can also be found on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki.
As always, please feel free to contact me or the NHB facilities team if you have any queries or concerns.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update - 4/19/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT occupants,
A brief update this week, just to let you know that construction continues as we renovate NHB in preparation to replace BIC’s 3T MRI system. There will be general construction noise over the next 2 weeks, but saw-cutting of the NHB patio to create the access shaft to the basement BIC suite will occur on Monday 4/24/23, which will be noisy and impactful to building occupants and pedestrians.
Please see the 2-week look ahead schedule on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade page of the BIC Wiki for more details.
Best wishes,
Doug
Community Update - 4/11/2023
Hi BIC community and NHB / FNT occupants,
We've had some major progress in construction at NHB over the past 10 days.
Please check out the photos on the Skyra to Prisma Upgrade of our Wiki, where you can see that interior demolition of the BIC suite under the drop zone is almost complete and excavation down to bedrock for the footings that will support the removable patio slab has begun.
Upcoming work will involve general construction noise, with no heavy noise anticipated in the current 2-week Look-ahead schedule. Prior noisy work within the Center does not appear to have been audible outside of the suite, so we are hoping to keep these impacts to a minimum. However, I do want to alert you that we expect to commence saw-cutting the NHB patio slab to create the MRI access shaft opening on 4/24/2023, which will likely be the first overtly audible evidence of construction to NHB occupants and the wider community.
Overall, the project is still on schedule with the install of our new Prisma system on track for the 20th of May.
As always, please check the BIC Wiki for project news and reach out if you have any queries or concerns.
Best wishes,
Doug