A former ACME supermarket that sits adjacent to Virtua’s Health and Wellness Center in Moorestown, N.J. underwent a transformation to become the new Virtua Samson Cancer Center. The new facility accommodates radiation oncology, an infusion treatment suite, a cancer administrative suite, and a third party infusion practice.
The 66,000-sf facility’s high ceilings, large windows, artwork that depicts nature, and a garden visible from the infusion patient treatment spaces are meant to promote a sense of hope, serenity, and healing. Treatment rooms were strategically placed depending on those patients that are sensitive to natural light versus those who aren’t impacted by natural light. A substructure was implemented to allow the ceiling and lighting to be suspended from it, minimizing the need to build walls to the full height of the structure.
See Also: Working to reduce HAIs: How design can support infection control and prevention
The center’s entry uses semi-opaque white panels that collectively create a single, uniform object that can be seen from the street. The front elevation is off center and has three vertical columns that hold up a misaligned upper mass. The interior Main Gallery space can be seen from the exterior through a full-height glass opening and allows visitors to find their bearings from either inside or outside the building. The tall ceilings of the Main Gallery transition to more intimate seating and lounge waiting areas.
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | May 5, 2021
HOK to design new Waterloo Eye Institute
The project is being designed for The University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science.
Healthcare Facilities | May 4, 2021
New proton therapy center will serve five-state region in Midwest
NCI-designated facility an addition to the University of Kansas Health System.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 30, 2021
Registration and waiting: Weak points and an enduring strength
Changing how patients register and wait for appointments will enhance the healthcare industry’s ability to respond to crises.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 29, 2021
HDR selected to design new Cancer Hospital in Shaoxing
Nature is at the heart of the project’s design.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 16, 2021
UCI Medical Center Irvine to break ground in mid-2021
Hensel Phelps + CO Architects design-build team were awarded the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 13, 2021
California’s first net-zero carbon emissions mental health campus breaks ground
CannonDesign is the architect for the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 4, 2021
Behavior mapping: Taking care of the caregivers through technology
Research suggests that the built environment may help reduce burnout.
Healthcare Facilities | Feb 25, 2021
The Weekly show, Feb 25, 2021: When healthcare designers become patients, and machine learning for building design
This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from BK Facility Consulting, cove.tool, and HMC Architects about what two healthcare designers learned about the shortcomings—and happy surprises—of healthcare facilities in which they found themselves as patients, and how AEC firms can use machine learning to optimize design, cost, and sustainability, and prioritize efficiency protocols.
Market Data | Feb 24, 2021
2021 won’t be a growth year for construction spending, says latest JLL forecast
Predicts second-half improvement toward normalization next year.
Sponsored | Biophilic Design | Feb 19, 2021
Stantec & LIGHTGLASS Simulate Daylight in a Windowless Patient Space