HKS and FreemanWhite, a Haskell Company, have been selected as the design team for the new Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville. This project represents a healthcare milestone – the opportunity to transform cancer care and provide advanced treatment options to adult patients locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. HKS Architects Inc., an internationally recognized design firm, and FreemanWhite, a consulting and design practice focused exclusively on healthcare, have collectively designed over 140 cancer centers – making the team an excellent choice for this iconic project.

The new center will be located in San Marco and is scheduled to open in 2018. It is anticipated to encompass more than 200,000 square feet with a dedicated 500-car parking garage and valet service for ease of patient access. The signature design will blend with and enhance the surrounding neighborhood. The design process will include visioning sessions with Baptist Health and MD Anderson leadership, the medical team and the community. This dedicated facility will be designed to serve a full continuum of cancer care needs, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship.

"Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is an opportunity to create a facility that will be a legacy for subsequent generations. With this project, Baptist Health will demonstrate the challenge and excitement of treatment and discovery," according to Carl Beers, principal of HKS Architects Inc., and Frank Brooks, CEO of FreemanWhite. "Through the power of architecture, the new building will be a powerful symbol of leadership and commitment to the common good. HKS and FreemanWhite are excited to be a part of the team."

Baptist Health, an innovative healthcare provider for decades, is now a partner member of MD Anderson Cancer Network®, the institution's program to elevate the quality of cancer care in communities throughout the nation and world. The Baptist organization includes five hospitals with 1,154-licensed beds, 1,658 medical staff and more than 250 outpatient facilities throughout North Florida and South Georgia. Baptist Jacksonville and Baptist South are ranked among America's Best Regional Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

"Baptist Health embodies the mission of caring for our community. Their tradition of philanthropy and civic engagement has become an important part of the fabric of our community, and that dedication has never been more evident than it is today, with the announcement of this new patient-centered facility," said Steve Halverson, CEO of Haskell. "We are honored to continue our long-standing relationship with this exceptional organization as a part of this project team."

Based in Houston, MD Anderson is the largest freestanding cancer center in the world. Since its inception in 1941, nearly one million patients have sought the innovative cancer care and prevention services that have made MD Anderson so widely respected. The institution has been consistently ranked as one of the top two hospitals for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. MD Anderson also ranks first in the total amount of grant dollars from the National Cancer Institute.