Since its beginning in 1887 as a small community hospital, Cooper University Hospital has been a cornerstone in the Camden, New Jersey community, offering the latest in medical technology. The design of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper meets Cooper University Health Care’s goals of providing exemplary multi-disciplinary cancer care to South Jersey. This four-level center includes 36 exam and treatment bays, radiation oncology, breast center, phlebotomy and a central pharmacy. A new café, conference center, and healing garden benefit patients, staff and visitors. The informed design focuses on creating a comfortable patient experience that optimizes the work environment for medical teams. Located at a major intersection, the site provides direct vehicular, pedestrian and public transit access for patients and staff. This addition to the campus allows Cooper to expand its services and provide centralized, technologically advanced care for its cancer patients.

MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper’s number one priority is to create an outstanding patient experience; the center’s design reflects patient feedback. Various methods to achieve patient-focused care were used throughout the design, documentation and construction process. The design team hosted focus groups and discussed design elements with patients, including infusion environments, patient room layout, furniture and finishes. Other aspects of the patient-focused environment include ample daylight flooding the interior spaces; a rooftop healing garden providing respite to patients, families and staff; and signature artwork created by local artists.

Designed and constructed according to LEED Silver sustainability standards, the four-level center is a healing environment, tailored to patient needs. The design brings progressive outpatient cancer treatment services under one roof, including but not limited to medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology and urology. This makes it easier for interdisciplinary specialists to communicate and collaborate, resulting in a higher level of care. The multidisciplinary approach means that cancer patients benefit from the expertise and resources of an entire team of cancer specialists working collaboratively for the best possible outcomes. The center also accommodates academic and research initiatives that engage patients as clinical trial participants.

Internally, the shell space remaining is adjacent to all of the clinical departments on each floor as well as the entire top floor of the building. These locations were selected strategically for their prime adjacencies for future growth of the infusion, exam and treatment spaces. The building is also designed to allow for a 4-story vertical expansion to accommodate future growth.