The scanner price is the number most buyers focus on first, but in a complete MRI installation the total siting and construction budget often runs 40 to 60 percent above the scanner cost alone. Structural reinforcement to support the magnet's weight and fringe field management, RF shielding designed to the field strength being installed, quench vent piping routed to a safe exterior termination, dedicated electrical service, and chiller infrastructure for the cryogenic system: none of these appear in the scanner list price, but all of them are required before the system can operate. We structure financing that treats the full installed cost as the project, not just the equipment line item.
Facilities that plan the financing around only the scanner price and then encounter the siting bill as a surprise often face a funding gap that delays the project or forces suboptimal decisions about which components get deferred. We address this by asking for the full siting estimate before the first term sheet is drafted.
What MRI Siting and Construction Covers
MRI siting encompasses everything required to prepare a physical space to accept and operate a superconducting scanner. The scope varies by building type and existing conditions, but a typical new installation project covers the following categories. Structural work includes floor reinforcement or a housekeeping pad, door widening for magnet delivery, and in some cases ceiling modification for bore positioning. Electrical infrastructure includes dedicated 480V or 208V service, a UPS or power conditioning unit recommended for many modern scanners, and conduit runs from the electrical room to the equipment room and console.
The magnetic fringe field from the scanner must be considered in the floor plan. A properly sited magnet does not allow the five-gauss line to extend into any occupied space where ferromagnetic projectiles could be present. This constraint sometimes requires that walls be relocated, that floors above or below be surveyed, or that passive shielding be installed if the room geometry cannot otherwise contain the fringe field. The RF shielding enclosure ensures that external RF sources do not enter the room, and the quench vent routes helium vapor safely to the exterior in the event of a magnet quench.
Construction cost ranges for a new MRI suite vary widely depending on geography, building conditions, and project complexity. A straightforward installation in a purpose-designed medical office building might run $200,000 to $400,000 in site preparation costs. A challenging installation in an older building with poor column spacing, legacy mechanical systems, and a complex delivery path could run $600,000 to $1 million or more before the scanner is delivered. We finance the actual project scope, not a round number. Radiology groups and physician-owned imaging programs each have slightly different financing profiles for siting projects, and we tailor the structure accordingly.
Structuring a Construction-Plus-Equipment Transaction
The financing for an MRI siting project with a scanner acquisition is typically structured as a single loan covering all components: equipment, construction, shielding, chiller, and related soft costs. The total transaction amount allows one monthly payment and one approval process. We coordinate the draw schedule so funds are available as construction milestones are completed and the equipment vendor invoice is funded on delivery and acceptance testing.
For projects where the construction timeline leads the equipment delivery by several months, a construction period with interest-only draws is common. The permanent loan converts to a fully amortizing payment once the scanner is installed and the suite is commissioned. This prevents the borrower from paying full principal and interest during months when the room is under construction and generating no revenue.
If the practice or imaging center is financing the construction separately, for example through a bank line of credit or a tenant improvement allowance from the landlord, the scanner can be financed as a standalone equipment transaction. We can work within that structure and advise on how to align the two financing timelines to avoid a funding gap at installation.
Startup imaging programs that are simultaneously building out the suite and establishing the business require a more detailed underwriting package. The principals' personal financials, any pre-commitment letters from referral sources, and the project plans from the general contractor are all relevant to the approval. We explain exactly what is needed and do not create delays through vague documentation requests.
Realistic Total Project Budgets
A realistic planning exercise for an MRI installation project looks like this: A 1.5T scanner with a list price of roughly $900,000 to $1.2 million, combined with $250,000 to $450,000 in siting and construction, produces a total project cost of $1.15 million to $1.65 million. A 3T installation with more demanding shielding and larger chiller requirements might run $1.5 million for the scanner and $400,000 to $700,000 in siting, for a total of $1.9 million to $2.2 million. These are illustrative ranges, not guarantees, and the actual numbers depend on your building, your market, and your vendor selections.
At these totals, terms of 60 to 84 months are standard. The monthly payment at 72 months on a $1.5 million total project cost is meaningful but manageable against the reimbursement revenue a busy 1.5T MRI suite generates. We model the payment against realistic scan volume and CPT rates for your market before you commit to a structure, so you understand what the ramp needs to look like to cover the obligation.
Finance the Complete MRI Installation Project
The scanner is the headline, but the room is the project. We finance the full installed cost, from the first concrete pour to the acceptance test signature, in a single transaction that reflects the real scope. Contact us through our intake form to begin the conversation.