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Baylor Health Care System had a clearly identified goal when they embarked upon creating the first dedicated cancer hospital along with the largest outpatient cancer center in North Texas: endow the community with a preeminent, patient-centered, comprehensive cancer center revolving around convenience, safety and comfort. The 467,000 SF building had to be the physical manifestation of the caring embrace given to patients, staff and visitors during the arduous caner care journey. The design solution accomplished this and raised the bar with an enhanced experience for cancer care.

The patient experience is the epicenter of the facility with the fundamental objective being to ease patient fears and frustrations by carefully orchestrating the continuum of cancer care. The design responded to user-group meetings by providing a Patient Navigation Suite at the center of the facility.  The suite is the physical as well as symbolic launching site for the cancer care journey. The design of patient care spaces directly reflect how the patients will move through the various stages of cancer – prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.  The design team evaluated each stage seeking opportunities to streamline the process, promote the education of cancer care or enhance the patient journey. The Sammons Cancer Center is the physical expression of the ideal cancer care process.

Understanding the patient journey informed an uplifting patient experience that:

Uses natural light as an organizing element and bathes the patient in open uplifting spaces;

Incorporates places of meditation and respite throughout the entire environment;

Provides a multitude of amenities and resources, including a library and healing garden, and immediate access parking for patients that return daily or weekly;

Offers an extremely simple wayfinding design;

Provides staff with efficient work environs and areas for respite.

The design concept is led by the desire to embrace the patient. This is expressed by the articulation of a warm, soflty-lit center and an outer technology shell. The crescent shaped atrium is the inner-space of the center and is flooded with natural light, indigenous materials and comfortable space. The atrium is the link between the main entry and the second level concourse that ties the inpatient and outpatient centers together. The crescent shaped atrium rests amid the curving façade, wrapping itself around the visitor and giving the most literal “embrace.”

The attention to detail of the interior space is reflective of the high quality of care given to the patient. The neutral finish palette is soothing to the occupants, and moments of interest are created with varying textures in wall and floor surfaces, with lines drawn from the curving architecture.  The contrasting dark wood and tiles at suite entries and elevator lobbies aid in wayfinding to key building amenities.  Impromptu rest areas are integrated into interior elements, such as the bench seating at the lobby planters and built in benches near elevators.  Nature, with its proven healing power, is strategically located in treatment areas, such as the patient path in the radiation vaults and infusion bays.  Quality of light is important in healing and caregivers work spaces; light is also used as a design feature through the use of delicate light fixtures that add sparkle and interest to the patient, visitor and staff areas. 

Since the grand opening in March 2011, the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center has lived up to its reputation as the new model for patient-centered, comprehensive cancer care revolving around convenience, safety and comfort.  Patients, staff, visitors and the surrounding community are proud of this new symbol of hope.

Judges Comments

• Felt like a hotel rather than a healthcare Facility.
• In one word…..Stunning
• Way finding was very clear. Excellent project.