Architects RTKL Associates Inc. gutted the 50-year-old facilityto the shell and core, and built a three-story, 138,000-sf medicaloffice building with many new amenities. The new treatment roomshave massive windows, translucent dividers in patient rooms to letin light and flat-screen televisions.

The facility is designed to serve patients from early cancerdetection through survivorship, "in one structure, making it asconvenient and comfortable as possible for patients and theirfamilies," says Donald DeBord Jr., a VP with RTKL. "That, initself, reduces the stress factor during a very difficult time."The university is seeking National Cancer Institute designation forthe new facility.

The hospital and university had looked at the property, but theuniversity decided it didn't need the site. The hospital saidgrowth during the past nine years created significant needs foroffice and clinical space. The hospital was able to consolidatestaff from three separate buildings. "This [move] gives us theflexibility to more easily adjust to our growth and betteraccommodate our patients," says Irene Cumming, president and chiefexecutive officer of the hospital, in a statement.