The newest Karmanos Cancer Institute, located at the McLaren Port Huron campus in Port Huron, Michigan has opened. The project was jointly designed by CallisonRTKL andSmithGroupJJR.

The $21 million, 35,000-square-foot Karmanos Cancer Institute is the first phase of a larger transformation underway at the McLaren Port Huron campus. The center provides comprehensive oncology services, integrating chemotherapy and radiation therapy into one facility. With its development, McLaren Health Care brings a new standard of cancer care to the Port Huron community.   

“With the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Port Huron, cancer patients can receive top-notch cancer services right here at home, without the need to travel out of the area for treatments and therapies that usually require several visits per week. This means less stress, more convenience and a better care experience for our patients and their families, all of which promote healing,” said President and CEO of McLaren Port Huron, Jennifer Montgomery.

The center features a linear accelerator, a state-of-the-art device that delivers external-beam radiation precisely to the tumor while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. Twelve chemotherapy infusion bays on the second floor offer patients privacy, views overlooking nature, heated massage lounge chairs, and televisions for long treatment sessions. Physician consult space enables treatment planning, examination and follow-up care. In addition, multidisciplinary teams focused on 13 specific types of care, access to genetic counseling and testing, and patient navigation services, including the coordination of support care, are all offered within the Karmanos Cancer Institute.    

“A process improvement approach was interwoven into the design process ensuring that form follows function,” said CallisonRTKL Senior Associate Vice President, Steve Stokes. “The outcome has been a holistic result true to the physical and cultural needs of McLaren Health.”

The CallisonRTKL and SmithGroupJJR design team worked closely and collaboratively on the design of the new cancer center, carefully considering schedule, materials and conceptual intentions.

“The project team drew inspiration from the surrounding environment for the design of the cancer center,” said Bob Varga, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, SmithGroupJJR about the distinct design intentions and approach, “On the building exterior, metal panels "ripple" in color, just as the nearby river does while the glassy stair towers act as light houses identifying the cancer center. The interior continues the same thought with materials in blues and warm natural hues.”

The Karmanos Cancer Institute offers the most advanced and comprehensive oncology services available to cancer patients, while also serving as a supportive and patient-centered environment. As one of 14 Karmanos cancer treatment sites in Michigan, the new Port Huron facility further solidifies the Karmanos-McLaren collaboration as one of Michigan’s top cancer care providers.

Serving as the construction management team for this new facility was the joint venture of Barton Malow, Southfield, Michigan, and Christman Company, Lansing, Michigan.

The SmithGroupJJR and CallisonRTKL team continues to provide master planning, programming, and conceptual design services for the McLaren Port Huron campus. The new Cancer Center is along with several phases currently underway that will make McLaren Port Huron the hospital of choice for the Port Huron community.

CallisonRTKL (www.callisonrtkl.com) is a global architecture, planning and design practice. Over the last 70 years, the firm has created some of the world’s most memorable and successful environments for developers, retailers, investors, institutions and public entities. Under the Arcadis umbrella, the firm continues to expand their sphere of influence and the depth and breadth of resources. With a team of nearly 2,000 professionals around the world, CallisonRTKL is committed to advancing clients’ businesses and enhancing quality of life.

SmithGroupJJR (www.smithgroupjjr.com) is a recognized integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm ranked as the 6th largest healthcare architecture firm in the U.S. by the 2016 “Giants” edition of Building Design + Construction magazine. With 1,100 employees in 10 offices, SmithGroupJJR is a national leader in sustainable design with more than 400 LEED professionals and 163 LEED certified projects.