By HFT Editorial Staff

The new Sentara Brock Cancer Center began treating patients on June 1, 2020. This new patient-centered facility transforms cancer care in Hampton Roads, Virginia, by bringing together expert care teams, community organizations and holistic cancer treatment services within one location. The $93.5 million, 253,000-square-foot facility serves as the regional hub for the Sentara Cancer Network.

The building was designed by Odell Associates with the patient's health journey and customer experience as a top priority. Entering through Sentara Brock Cancer Center's main entrance, the patients, medical professionals, staff and visitors are warmly greeted and protectively sheltered by a transparent, single-pitch canopy skylight.

Manufactured by Acurlite Structural Skylights, the canopy's aluminum framing system was finished by Linetec in durable, Class I Clear Anodize. Highlighting the natural look of aluminum accentuates the cancer center's clean, contemporary appearance.

Anodize is the hardest finish available for architectural aluminum products. It requires minimal maintenance, provides excellent wear and abrasion resistance, and delivers long-lasting performance that meets or exceeds the AAMA 61  standard.

During its expected 40-year lifespan, the anodized aluminum also supports healthy indoor air quality because there are no applicable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with this product. These qualities earned Linetec's anodize finishing for aluminum a Declare Label as Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List Free. This means that Linetec's anodize finishing is in full compliance with the highest level of LBC criteria established through the International Living Future Institute. At the end of its life on the building, the finished aluminum is 100 percent recyclable.

The anodized aluminum frames 12 bays composing the canopy skylight's total 60-foot 7-inch span. Each bay supports two lites of insulated, coated, heat-strengthened, laminated glass. The glass achieves high visible light transmittance for clear views above and natural daylight below, while managing the solar heat.

The center is named in honor of the Joan and Macon Brock family. Joan Brock is a three-time cancer survivor, a grateful patient of the Sentara Cancer Network, and a previous Sentara Healthcare board member. She is honoring her late husband, Macon Brock, and her family through this generous gift.

"I heard that dreaded phrase, 'You have cancer,' so I know how vital it is to have a comprehensive solution that treats the whole person as well as the disease," says Joan Brock. "I relied upon an advanced clinical team to get me through survivorship. Now, everyone in our community will have access to our region's community cancer partners in one location right here at home."