The St. Charles Cancer Center in Redmond, Oregon, represents a new benchmark in healthcare facility design, where specialized construction and patient-centered architecture converge to deliver exceptional care. Opened to patients on April 20, 2026, the two-story, 53,000-square-foot facility is approximately nine times larger than the region’s previous cancer treatment center and can serve up to 300 patients daily. Built by Skanska USA, the center expands access to world-class oncology services across Central Oregon while demonstrating how thoughtful construction strategies can directly support patient healing and comfort. The facility’s integration of natural light, mass timber elements, and views of the Cascade Range aligns with the growing body of evidence supporting biophilic design in medical construction, where connections to nature reduce patient stress and improve treatment outcomes.
Project Overview and Design Philosophy
Removing Barriers to Care Through Design
Trevor Wyckoff, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building in Oregon, emphasized that every detail was geared toward removing barriers to care. The design team prioritized a calming, patient-centered environment, choosing materials and finishes that promote wellbeing rather than the clinical sterility often associated with medical facilities.
Construction began in June 2024 and progressed through a carefully sequenced timeline to meet the April 2026 opening. The accelerated schedule required close coordination between Skanska’s construction teams, subcontractors, and the St. Charles Health System to ensure the specialized infrastructure was installed and commissioned without delays.
Service Spectrum and Patient Capacity
The cancer center consolidates a full spectrum of oncology services under one roof, eliminating the need for patients to travel between multiple facilities. Key clinical offerings include:
- Radiation oncology with advanced linear accelerator technology
- Chemotherapy infusion across 22 dedicated infusion bays
- Surgical oncology for in-house procedures
- Medical oncology consultations and ongoing care management
- On-site laboratory and pharmacy services
- Expanded support services including integrative therapies
The 36 exam rooms and semi-private and private treatment spaces allow the facility to accommodate up to 300 patients per day while maintaining a comfortable, uncrowded environment. This capacity represents a dramatic improvement over the region’s previous oncology facility, which had long limited access to timely cancer care for Central Oregon residents.
Advanced Technology Integration
The center is equipped with cutting-edge treatment technologies that demand specialized building infrastructure. The technology suite includes:
- A Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for external beam radiation therapy
- CT simulation equipment for precise treatment planning
- A high-dose brachytherapy suite for internal radiation treatments
Each system required specific structural, electrical, and shielding considerations during design and construction.
Specialized Construction for Advanced Cancer Treatment
Radiation Shielding: The Linear Accelerator Vault
The most demanding structural element of the project is the concrete vault housing the linear accelerator. This vault must contain radiation within the treatment room to protect patients, staff, and the public. The engineering solution demanded extraordinary concrete construction:
| Vault Component | Thickness | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Vault walls | 1.8 m (6.5 ft) | Reinforced concrete |
| Vault ceiling | 1.2 to 2.4 m (4 to 8 ft) | Reinforced concrete |
| Total concrete pour | 140 truckloads | ~2.54 million kg (5.6 million lb) |
The massive concrete volumes required careful planning for formwork, curing, and quality control. Each pour had to be continuous to prevent cold joints that could compromise the vault’s shielding integrity. The variable ceiling thickness reflects changing radiation shielding requirements based on the linear accelerator’s beam angles and surrounding occupancy zones.
Mass Timber Structural Elements
In a striking contrast to the massive concrete vault, the cancer center also incorporates significant mass timber structural elements that bring warmth and sustainability to the building. The timber package includes:
- 86 glulam (glued laminated timber) beams supporting the roof and floor structures
- 30 cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels forming more than 929 m2 (10,000 sf) of the roof and second-floor structure
The exposed mass timber elements serve a dual purpose. Structurally, glulam beams provide the long spans needed for open treatment areas and circulation spaces without intermediate columns. Aesthetically, the warm wood surfaces contribute to the calming, non-institutional atmosphere that was central to the design brief. The combination of mass timber with conventional steel and concrete framing demonstrates how hybrid structural systems can achieve both functional performance and patient-centered design goals in healthcare facilities requiring robust HVAC strategies for healthy buildings.
Construction Sequencing and Logistics
The project timeline from June 2024 to April 2026 required coordinated phasing across multiple workstreams:
- Site preparation and foundations (June to August 2024): Earthwork, utility connections, and foundation construction for the vault and main structure
- Concrete vault construction (August to November 2024): Sequential pours for the linear accelerator vault, with extended curing periods between stages
- Structural frame erection (November 2024 to March 2025): Installation of glulam beams, CLT panels, and steel framing
- Building envelope and MEP rough-in (March to September 2025): Enclosure, roofing, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in
- Interior fit-out and technology installation (September 2025 to February 2026): Exam rooms, infusion bays, and medical equipment installation and commissioning
- Final commissioning and occupancy (February to April 2026): Systems testing, staff training, and patient-ready certification
Patient Comfort Through Material and Environmental Design
Natural Light and Visual Connections
Research consistently demonstrates that access to natural light improves patient outcomes, reduces pain perception, and shortens hospital stays. The St. Charles Cancer Center prioritizes daylight penetration through generous window openings strategically positioned to offer views of the Cascade Range. This design choice transforms what could be an intimidating treatment experience into one that leverages the therapeutic power of the surrounding Oregon landscape.
The integration of architectural acoustics in building design further supports patient comfort. Sound-absorbing finishes and thoughtful spatial separation between noisy mechanical areas and quiet treatment zones help maintain a peaceful environment throughout the facility. Patients undergoing chemotherapy infusion, which often requires hours of sitting, benefit particularly from low ambient noise levels.
Integrative Therapies and Support Spaces
Beyond clinical treatment rooms, the cancer center includes dedicated spaces for integrative therapies that address the whole patient, not just the disease. These may include:
- Meditation and mindfulness rooms with controlled lighting and minimal distractions
- Consultation spaces designed for private, unhurried conversations between patients and care teams
- Family support areas where caregivers can rest and regroup during long treatment days
- Wellness programming spaces for nutrition counseling, exercise therapy, and stress management
These spaces required careful attention to mechanical systems to ensure proper ventilation, temperature control, and humidity management. Touch-free restroom systems and hands-free fixtures throughout the building reduce cross-contamination risks for immune-compromised patients, a critical consideration in cancer care facilities where infection prevention is paramount.
Material Selection for Healing Environments
The material palette at St. Charles Cancer Center was curated to support both clinical functionality and psychological comfort. Key material decisions included:
| Material | Application | Patient Comfort Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Glulam beams and CLT panels | Structural roof and floor framing | Warm visual aesthetic reduces institutional feel |
| Large-format glazing | Exterior walls and waiting areas | Natural light and mountain views reduce stress |
| Sound-absorbing ceiling panels | Infusion bays and exam rooms | Lower noise levels for extended treatment sessions |
| Anti-microbial surfaces | High-touch areas and restrooms | Reduced infection risk for immunocompromised patients |
| Radiation-shielding concrete | Linear accelerator vault | Safe delivery of high-dose radiation therapy |
Each material choice balances performance requirements with the patient experience. The exposed mass timber, for example, required coordination with fire protection systems and humidity controls to ensure long-term durability while maintaining its visual warmth.
Operational Integration and Future-Ready Healthcare Delivery
Consolidated Care Model
The St. Charles Cancer Center’s design supports a consolidated care model that brings together medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and pharmacy under one roof. This integration reduces the number of separate appointments and travel between facilities that cancer patients typically endure. For patients already managing the physical and emotional demands of treatment, this logistical simplification directly removes a significant barrier to care.
The 22 chemotherapy infusion bays are arranged to provide both privacy and community. Patients who prefer solitude during treatment can use private bays with closing curtains and individual entertainment systems. Those who benefit from peer support can choose semi-private arrangements where conversations with fellow patients are possible.
Workflow Efficiency for Clinical Staff
Patient-centered design extends to the operational workflows that clinical staff navigate daily. The floor plan groups related services to minimize travel distances for care teams, allowing nurses and physicians to spend more time with patients and less time moving between departments. Key operational design features include:
- Decentralized nursing stations near patient treatment areas for rapid response
- Dedicated medication preparation rooms adjacent to infusion bays
- Streamlined patient flow from check-in through consultation to treatment
- Separate staff corridors that allow clinical movement without disrupting patient spaces
- Centralized charting and documentation areas with natural light exposure
Scalability and Future Expansion
The 53,000-square-foot facility was designed with future growth in mind. As cancer treatment technology evolves and the Central Oregon population grows, the building can accommodate additional treatment modalities and increased patient volumes. Key scalability features include:
- Structural capacity for additional linear accelerator vaults in planned expansion zones
- Mechanical system capacity designed with 20 percent预留 for future equipment loads
- Shell space for future exam rooms that can be finished as demand requires
- Infrastructure pathways for future technology upgrades without major renovation
This forward-looking approach protects the health system’s investment and ensures that the facility can continue serving patients effectively for decades. The hybrid structural system, combining mass timber with conventional concrete and steel, provides the flexibility needed for future reconfiguration without compromising the existing building performance.
Lessons for Healthcare Construction Professionals
The St. Charles Cancer Center project offers several takeaways for building professionals involved in healthcare construction:
- Engage specialty contractors early. The linear accelerator vault required concrete subcontractors with experience in radiation shielding. Bringing them into the design phase prevented costly redesigns.
- Plan for hybrid structural systems. Combining mass timber with concrete and steel can achieve both technical performance and patient experience goals, but requires early coordination among structural engineers, the timber fabricator, and the general contractor.
- Prioritize patient experience in MEP design. Mechanical systems for healthcare facilities must support both infection control and comfort. Zoned HVAC, dedicated exhaust for treatment areas, and quiet mechanical equipment are essential.
- Design for patient flow from the patient’s perspective. Every department layout should be evaluated based on how a patient experiencing pain or anxiety will navigate the space, not just how efficiently clinical staff can move.
- Build in flexibility. Healthcare technology evolves rapidly. Structural systems, mechanical capacity, and floor plans should accommodate future equipment and reconfiguration without major demolition.
The St. Charles Cancer Center demonstrates that healthcare construction projects can achieve exceptional clinical functionality while creating environments that support patient healing. By prioritizing patient comfort at every scale from the concrete radiation vault to the exposed timber beams, the project sets a new standard for cancer care facilities. For building professionals, it serves as a case study in how specialized construction techniques and human-centered design can serve the most vulnerable patients in our communities.