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 | Jan 15, 2016
Mount Sinai Health System signs first healthcare IPD IFOA contract in New York City
Francis Cauffman, Syska Hennessy, Turner Construction are the primary parties in agreement.
| Jan 14, 2016
How to succeed with EIFS: exterior insulation and finish systems
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
Great Solutions | Jan 6, 2016
Shepley Bulfinch develops elegant design solution to address behavioral issues in emergency departments
ED scheme allows staff to isolate unruly patients and visitors in a secure area.
Great Solutions | Jan 4, 2016
Toronto’s newest hospital employs 10 robots for moving food, supplies, and equipment
The 1.8 million-sf Humber River Hospital is loaded with high-tech gadgets. Its coolest innovation is the use of automated guided vehicles.
Urban Planning | Jan 4, 2016
The next boomtown? Construction and redevelopment sizzle in San Diego
The city's emission-reduction plan could drive influx into downtown
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 29, 2015
Wood materials aid in patient recovery in healthcare environments
Report says patient recovery times, pain perception, stress levels improve where natural materials are present.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 15, 2015
What the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 means for healthcare real estate development
CBRE Healthcare's Charles Maggio breaks down the impacts of the new legislation, which affects outpatient facilities.
Greenbuild Report | Dec 10, 2015
Sustainable performance: Hospital systems’ new financial and marketing imperative
Several years ago, the healthcare industry would have ranked in the bottom tier among adopters of sustainable design and construction. Now, it is outpacing other nonresidential sectors in moving toward high-performance, healthy environments.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 2, 2015
Check out Perkins+Will’s ultra-transparent research center for the Allen Institute for Brain Science
The design orients labs like flower petals around a large light-filled central atrium; the effect is like the inside of a bee hive where researchers can see each other and what they are doing.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 6, 2015
Paint company unveils product that can kill bacteria in hospitals
The new product from Sherwin-Williams, called Paint Shield, is said to not only kill over 99.9% of dangerous bacteria, but also reduces growth of “common microbes.”
