Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Florida Cancer Specialists
Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Florida Cancer Specialists
Awards Category : : Healthcare
As a global leader in cancer research and care, the client was focused on providing greater access to innovative cancer therapies to patients across the country. Expanding their outreach into Florida, the Lake Nona DDU and Clinic brings quality, comfortable, and dignified cancer care into the region. The small clinic includes infusion spaces, clinical exam rooms, an in-house lab and drug development pharmacy, and administration functions.
The project aimed to holistically embody Sarah Cannon’s mission statement: “People who live with cancer – those who work to prevent it, fight it, and survive it – are at the heart of every decision we make. Bringing the most innovative medical minds together with the most passionate caregivers in their communities, we are transforming care and personalizing treatment.” Pivotal design drivers include patient empowerment through choice, leveraging various principles of neuroaesthetics, and the integration of an evidence-based design methodology to support patient and staff-centric design. Examples of patient empowerment include the incorporation of patient-controlled lighting and privacy features in Infusion Bays as well as offering a variety of treatment settings that grant individuals a sense of autonomy. Neuroaesthetic analysis guided decisions on finish palette and material selections, with the overarching objective of emulating residential design’s comforts of home. Residential design elements such as tapered legs on casework, visually-rich and natural-looking finish selections, and refined decorative lighting are featured throughout the clinical spaces.
Evidence-based design principles include the incorporation of biophilic design and the maximization of daylight. A view analysis within the Infusion area prompted the replacement of the exterior (frosted) lower glazing with clear vision glass. This decision was supported by data-driven biophilic research which indicates the measurable physiology and psychological benefits of providing direct views to nature.
Informed by research on daylight’s positive impacts on holistic wellness and circadian rhythm regulation, patient-facing spaces were strategically positions along the building’s perimeter or received supplemental daylight through clerestory windows and interior glazing.
Highly collaborative work sessions between the design and client teams played a pivotal role in continually prioritizing the well-being of both patients and staff. Superusers from the client’s facilities, clinical, and standard of care teams were identified to actively participate in the review of design. The interdisciplinary team’s input focused on functionality, critical sightlines, and essential programmatic adjacencies, ensuring a holistic and well-informed approach to the design process, symbolic of Sarah Cannon’s mission.
Design possesses the potential to create significant and inspiring effects, and the Lake Nona DDU serves as a glimpse into the future of what the cancer care experience can be.
Date of Completion: April 2021
Client: Sarah Cannon Research Institute
General Contractor: Layton
Consultants:
ENGINEERING:
AEI, Affiliated Engineers - Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing
Jason Compton - jcompton@aeieng.com
DEMOUNTABLE WALLS (DIRTT) DEALER:
Alfred Williams
Meredith Powell - mpowell@alfredwilliams.com
FURNITURE DEALER:
Workscapes – ph: 407-599-6770
PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHER
Chad Baumer Photography - chadbaumer@gmail.com
Photography Credits:
SCRI_Nona_01_Concierge: Positioning a dedicated Concierge/Reception Station at the clinic’s entry provides a personal touchpoint at the onset of the patient journey. This first-impression space features a boutique ambiance, characterized by a custom ceiling design reminiscent of Florida waves, clustered decorative pendants anchoring the reception desk, and an immediately adjacent waiting lounge filled with hospitality-inspired furniture. The decorative glass panel situated behind the concierge desk strikes an elegant balance between the imperative of visual patient privacy beyond and the desire for a warm and visually layered aesthetic.
SCRI_Nona_02_Zone_Diagram: The patient journey was at the forefront of the project team’s design priorities. The need for clear delineation of serene patient-facing spaces versus high-performing back-of-house areas resulted in the identification of four main zones: Drug Development, Lab, Patient Treatment, and Administrative.
The Patient Treatment Zone includes Infusion, Community Hub, Exam, PK (protein kinase) private treatment rooms, and Blood Draw, all anchored by a centralized nurse station.
The Administrative Zone is strategically organized in a modular fashion to accommodate evolving spatial needs. Private offices and collaboration rooms (enclaves) are equally sized, allowing for seamless adaptability. Similarly, the workstation area incorporates extra space with the flexibility to cater to future needs.
SCRI_Nona_03_Daylight_Diagram: Guided by evidence-based research indicating the emotional, psychological, and physiological benefits of daylight for patients on a journey to wellness, the project team analyzed key programmatic elements against access to daylight. Infusion, Community Hub, private treatment rooms, blood draw, staff breakroom, lab and the administrative workstation zone are all intentionally located along the building’s perimeter, much of which features floor-to-ceiling windows. Additional clerestory windows allow daylight to permeate into patient-facing interior spaces, a critical design decision driven by evidence that exposure to daylight assists in the regulation of circadian rhythm, mental health and cognitive function.
SCRI_Nona_04_Infusion: Informed by evidence based-design research on the physiological and psychological impacts of visual access to nature and positive distraction, the existing Open infusion frosted exterior glass was replaced with clear vision glass, allowing Infusion patients in the seated position to have direct views of the calming outdoor water feature and garden below.
SCRI_Nona_05_Community_Hub: The Community Hub is conceptually designed as a space dedicated to nurturing connections between patients and their support networks. Anchored in the principles of biophilia and holistic design, the space is thoughtfully positioned adjacent to the infusion area, offering serene vistas of the tranquil water below.
SCRI_Nona_06_Community_Hub: Enabling patient empowerment through choice is a fundamental design principle. One example is the programmatic adjacencies between Open Infusion, Community Hub and the Nurse Station, ensuring critical caregiver-to-patient sightlines while affording patients a diverse selection of seating options, allowing them to select those that best align with their comfort and personal preferences. Individually controlled dimmable lights and privacy curtains at each Infusion Bay offer the option for privacy and personal control during treatment.
SCRI_Nona_07_Casework_Diagram: The team harnessed advanced technology-driven design tools to facilitate highly collaborative and iterative design sessions, involving superusers extensively in crafting the bespoke Infusion casework. Refer to diagram text for details.
SCRI_Nona_08_Finishes: The finish palette employs a layering of materiality, unique decorative lighting and plush upholstered seating intended to cultivate an aesthetic comfort by drawing inspiration from elements found in residential and hospitality design. This deliberate design approach seeks to transform clinical spaces into more inviting, visually rich environments and enhance the overall patient experience by fostering positive environmental associations. The palette features playful nods to the surrounding Florida region including wave-inspired feature ceilings, abstracted palm and cloud patterning within decorative tiles, and wood-look resilient flooring reminiscent of sun-bleached beach boardwalks.
SCRI_Nona_09_Consent: Recognizing that the Consent Rooms serve as the backdrop for emotionally taxing conversations between patients, their loved ones and care providers, it was imperative to curate a home-like, comforting and serene setting. Building upon the principles of neuroaethetics within residentially inspired clinical space, the room features views of nature, ample daylight, decorative wallcovering, inviting and flexible seating, and floating custom casework. These rooms exemplify the client’s commitment to creating patient-centric environments where in-depth discussions regarding cutting-edge cancer treatment take place.