Bound to enhance its reputation as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2010 by the independent healthcare ratings organization, HealthGrades, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center (FHMCC) is now treating as many as 80 patients a day at its new freestanding cancer institute in Daytona Beach.
Right on the heels of completing a new 12-story, 564,260 square-foot main hospital building, FHMMC turned to the architect of record, HuntonBrady Architects once again to design the new cancer center. Providing comprehensive services all under one roof, the multi-modal facility provides access to a full range of oncologists, specialists and social workers, as well as radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The modern space also houses an American Cancer Society resource center, appearance center, café and chapel.
Architectural highlights of the aluminum clad, one-story structure include a light-filled infusion bay overlooking a pond and wetland landscape, and an iconic cylindrical rooftop element making the center recognizable from the adjacent interstate highway. Barbara Horwitz-Bennett connected with HuntonBrady Architect’s Paul Macheske, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, Director of Healthcare Design; Chris Dunlop, AIA, Project Manager; Aurelio Posada, AIA, Project Architect/Designer; and Darlinda Copeland, FHMCC’s Chief Operating Officer to catch up on the highlights of this noteworthy new center.
Darlinda Copeland: We had an existing cancer center attached to the old hospital by a connecting medical office building, but providing a freestanding cancer center was the best thing to do for our patients. Cancer patients have a lot of emotional turmoil in their life, so the best thing we can do is create an environment that is very user friendly, that is compassionate and that is multidisciplinary for the user. At our center, diagnostics, radiation, doctors, surgeons and social workers are all on the spot, accessible with one phone call and one place to park. This centralized, streamlined service also cuts down on delays in care, ensuring the fastest time from diagnostics to treatment, and providing all the experts in one place.
Paul Macheske, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP: The building shape really evolved around that concept, which was to provide multidisciplinary services, all accessible from a central, daylight-filled lobby. There were actually studies that had been done showing that it would have been more cost effective to put the new center into an existing medical office building, but the owner didn’t think placing it there would create the right environment for their patients, not to mention prohibiting future physical growth for the cancer program.
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