PHOTO TOUR: Henry Ford Cancer Institute Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The two-story lobby is the hub of the cancer center and features a floor-to-ceiling curtainwall, which floods the interior with natural light and provides a visual connection back to the historic flagship hospital and the surrounding historic district of uptown Detroit.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The lobby houses a reception desk, digital wayfinding, DNA-themed feature wall, and a variety of seating options to create a welcoming space.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
An elevated skywalk, extending 430 feet over a busy, four-lane boulevard, connects the new pavilion to the hospital across the street. The bridge was prefabricated off-site and delivered in sections for safe and rapid on-site assembly.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
Several “DNA”' walls, located in the main lobby and at the end of the skywalk connection, are designed to become a hallmark of Henry Ford's brand and allude to the institute’s groundbreaking research and precision genetic treatments. Each features blue acrylic elements expressed in multiple shades and embedded in a wood panel.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The Tumor Board is a dedicated technology-rich meeting space where multidisciplinary care teams can collaborate on patient treatment planning. A custom-designed table and perimeter bench seating accommodate teams of up to 50 providers.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
An expanded exam and consult room supports a new operational model providing care in one space rather than having the patient move from room to room during their visit. The rooms have ample space as well as access to natural light and soothing colors. Integrated technology allows patients to customize the care room environment, including temperature, lighting, and sound.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The layout of the infusion area is designed to maximize safety and comfort with amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows and a separate rooftop terrace specifically for infusion patients. The splayed configuration of each pod allows clear visualization of each patient from the team care station while maximizing outdoor views from each infusion chair.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The exterior design integrates the new facility into its historic campus context, punctuated by a six-story glass tower symbolizing the health system’s commitment to innovation. The design uses a variety of systems, including curtainwall, metal panels, precast concrete, brick, and cold-formed metal studs.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
Locating the project across the street from the existing hospital creates a strong urban edge.
Justin Maconochie, Courtesy of SmithGroup
The lighting design on the exterior incorporates subtle brick façade highlights and cove up-lighting of the lobby ceiling and beacon tower to create a warm and welcoming transparency to the main entrance.
Henry Ford Health System (Detroit) has one of the largest cancer programs in the state of Michigan with its Henry Ford Cancer Institute treating nearly 10,000 new cancer patients a year. Recognizing that cancer cases are expected to continue increasing, the institute set out to create a new comprehensive cancer care that brought together services under one roof.
The new 187,000-square-foot Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion opened in January, across the street from Henry Ford’s flagship hospital in Detroit. The facility features a patient-centered healing environment for ambulatory cancer treatment, precision medicine, clinical trials, research, and enhanced support services with an infusion center, imaging and laboratory services, physical and occupational therapy, and a cancer-specific urgent care. In addition, the project offers holistic wellness for cancer patients by incorporating on-site exercise and fitness areas, nutrition planning and coaches, yoga and Eastern medicine programs, and cooking classes.
Working with SmithGroup (Detroit), the Henry Ford Cancer Institute rebranded its interior environments, pushing to develop an immersive and patient-centric experience that was less clinical in aesthetic than traditional cancer care environments. The exterior architecture features varied massing, contextual architectural references to the historic campus, and color and depth of detail to create a layered, human scale.
Inside, a curved, monumental stair in the 30-foot-tall lobby serves a key feature and a symbolic milestone for patients—at the beginning of treatment patients lack the strength to climb them, but by the end of their treatment ascending the stairs is a symbol of hope and triumph over cancer.
An extensive use of light, warm, and natural colors and materials are used throughout and complement dedicated patient spaces, including lounges. The facility also offers retail cancer services, including a pharmacy, and food services specifically designed to meet the dietary needs and tastes of cancer patients.
Project details:
Facility name: Henry Ford Cancer Institute Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion
Location: Detroit
Completion date: January 2021
Owner: Henry Ford Health System
Total building area: 187,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $155 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $828.88
Medical planning, architecture, interior architecture, engineering (MEP and structural, lighting design, landscape architecture, and environmental branding: SmithGroup
General contractor: Turner Construction
Skywalk architect: SDG Associates
Parking deck architect: Rich & Associates Parking Consultants
Patient experience and organizational alignment consulting: Enviah
