Project category: Remodel/Renovation (completed December 2004)

Chief administrator: Amy Starling, Director of Cancer Services, (413) 794-1656

Firm: Steffian Bradley Architects, (617) 305-7137

Design team: Kurt Rockstroh, Principal, Project Executive; Linda Haggerty, Principal, Interior Design; Gregg Cribb, Associate, Project Architect (Steffian Bradley Architects); Paul Fimian, Engineer (AHA Consulting Engineers); Stanley Hunter, Project Manager; Amy Starling, Administrative Director of Cancer Services (Baystate Medical Center)

Photography: ©2005 Robert Benson Photography

Total building area (sq. ft.): 10,000

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $86

Total construction cost (excluding land): $856,000


The Comprehensive Breast Care Center is the second phase of construction that has revolutionized cancer treatment at a major medical center in western Massachusetts. The first phase included the construction of the Center for Cancer Care, which opened in January of 2004.

The Breast Care Center includes a renovated waiting room with a resource library, mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic rooms, and an exam suite. The 10,000-sq.-ft. suite is organized into two areas: the mammography/ultrasound area and an exam suite. All staff work areas are located outside the patient zones. The floor plan encourages patient and staff interaction by the elimination of architectural barriers. The design language of the center was adapted from the adjacent cancer center but modified to give the breast center its own aesthetic while using the same materials and finishes.

Designed around the patient experience and the treatment path, interior detailing and finishes highlight the patient zone and clearly lead the patient from public space to private gowning and treatment. The patient areas are uplifting, with color and art acting as the key focus in the space. Wallcoverings in the corridors offer a colorful collision of multiple hues, and recessed panels provide space for carefully placed art and accessories. Carpet patterns and indirect lighting add to the dynamic of the space. The combination of elements creates an upbeat, nonmedical feel and provides a pleasant distraction from what could be a life-changing diagnosis. Lighting design accentuates architectural elements, and indirect lighting was thoughtfully incorporated.