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Patients and doctors alike are sure to benefit from an improved Providence Cancer Center in Portland. Providence Health & Services is spending $15 million to transform the 11th floor of its building at 4805 N.E. Glisan St. into a comfortable and efficient space.

鈥淚t will unify the cancer treatment experience on one floor,鈥� said Dr. Kevin Olson, executive medical director of cancer services at Providence Health & Services. 鈥淭hey will find the same front desk, doctors and other treatments that they might have to go to three or four different places for now.鈥�

JRJ Architects‘ challenge was to find a design able to bring together multiple specialties associated with cancer treatment. The space needed to be able to accommodate dentists, geneticists and surgeons.

It also had to be able to serve patients receiving treatments for non-cancer ailments.

鈥淧atient flow was the biggest challenge,鈥� said Thomas Wesel, a JRJ Architects principal. 鈥淣ormal oncology patients flow differently than specialty patients. Working through the crossover of patients was a challenge.鈥�

Then there was the space issue. Currently, chemotherapy, radiology, surgical and dental services occupy separate spaces from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. When they move into the new center next year, they will share more than 30,000 square feet.

鈥淲e tried to cluster the groups so that patients and staff wouldn’t have to walk too far,鈥� Wesel said. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure patients will have to travel the fewest steps.鈥�

Architects spent months talking with doctors, patients and volunteers to learn their specific needs in the space. Some patients wanted an infusion area that would allow them to interact with other patients and staff; others wanted more private space for those treatments.

鈥淲e came up with a place where people can sit and have conversations,鈥� Wesel said. 鈥淲e also have some chairs that are more separated. Other spaces have Zen rooms if you need to be completely alone.鈥�

One thing everyone wanted was natural light. Designers responded by positioning windows to allow views of mountains and east Portland.

While patients’ needs received considerable attention, so did doctors’ needs. The new space will facilitate collaboration between doctors and increase efficiency.

鈥淲e are going to implement a concierge pharmacy to deliver drugs to patients in clinic instead of sending them out of the house,鈥� Olson said.

The biggest surprise of the project, he added, is its price tag.

鈥淭here is always sticker shock,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ow much it costs to do things in a hospital situation 鈥� that was interesting and challenging.鈥�

Despite the price tag, Olson said the new center will vastly improve the patient experience in what is one of the most stressful times in their lives. The design phase of the project is wrapping up. Permitting and construction phases will begin in the next few months. The updated space is expected to be ready next year.

鈥淭here has been a fragmentation in treatment,鈥� Olson said. 鈥淚t is rare that one clinical entity can provide all these services. The idea here is to make it feel like there is one-stop shopping. Patients can be in one space and get their questions answered.鈥�

On the Boards is a 91视频 feature offering a look at the projects in Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact 91视频 architecture and engineering reporter Kent Hohlfeld at 503-802-7224 or [email protected].