Community involvement was an essential element in the early program definition process. The clinical and administrative leadership of the proposed project assembled a group, known as the Community Advisory Committee, whose lives had been touched by the experience of cancer. This group began to meet before any planning or design work was undertaken, to share with staff and project designers the aspects of their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery that they felt should have an impact on the design of the new facility. In this way, the design incorporated numerous features responsive to patients’ physical and emotional needs.

Wherever possible, the patient spaces in the Clinical Care Building are oriented to provide outside exposure and natural light. The central public space connects to an outdoor patio through an indoor garden with a water feature, seating, and walking paths. Chemotherapy areas are located on upper floors to take advantage of views.

Clinical therapies include radiation, infusion chemotherapy, bone-marrow transplant, treatment for lymphedema, and supportive therapies (music and art, journaling, stress management, meditation, and massage). A homelike family support room, reference library, meeting spaces, and a meditation room are also included.

Project category: New construction (completed December 2001 [Cancer Center] and June 2002 [Research Building])

Chief administrator: Susan Brown-Wagner, CEO, (480) 657-1251

Firm: Devenney Group Architects, (602) 943-8950

Design team: Susan Colledge, Interior Design (Susan Colledge & Associates); Greg Flanagan, Landscape Architect (G.K. Flanagan & Associates); Dean Purdy, Structural Engineer (TLCP Structural, Inc.); Louis Sullivan, Mechanical/Electrical Engineer (Sullivan Designs, Inc.); John Kuhn, Civil Engineer (Evans Kuhn & Associates, Inc.)

Photography: A.F. Payne Photographic

Total building area (GSF): 103,000

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $120

Total cost (excluding land): $12,329,533

Planned to enable research physicians to see patients during the course of their laboratory work, the Research Building is connected by a second-floor enclosed walkway to the patient areas. This building is designed for flexible, modular layout of wet-lab bench research, offices, and administrative functions. The ground floor of the facility is arranged for use in clinical trial patient visits.