On Thursday, July 27, the UVA Board of Visitors Buildings and Grounds Committee approved the design for a $59 million, eco-friendly cancer care center to be built at the heart of the medical center complex. With tons of glass providing natural light and even an herb garden, the center reflects national trends in sustainability and holistic healing, says UVA Architect David Neuman. He links the building to new trends in medical care, too: “The whole thing in patient care has to do with people having hope…that concept of building is very powerful,” Neuman says.
UVA sees 2,300 new cancer cases per year; that number is expected to double by 2013. The new center will relocate existing cancer clinics and provide room for new therapeutic facilities.
The 118,000-square-foot building, complete with a sloped roof to harvest rainwater, will replace the west parking garage at the busy corner at Jefferson Park Avenue and Lee Street. The project will also include the building of a 175,000-square-foot parking garage to the east, with room for 1,100 cars. A main entrance to the hospital complex next door will give a much-needed face lift to the medical center.
The buildings and Grounds Committee approved the schematic design unanimously. The project, by Zimmer-Gunsul-Frasca Partnership of Washington, D.C., should be completed in 2009.
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