Hospital breaks ground on $27 million oncology center

SARASOTA — Sarasota Memorial Health Care System will break ground on a $27 million radiation oncology center Jan 23. 

The center will be at the southeast corner of University Parkway and Honore Avenue in Sarasota. It is expected to open in summer 2020.

The oncology center is one of two facilities Sarasota Memorial plans to build this year as part of its Cancer Institute and comprehensive cancer care program. An oncology tower will be also built on Sarasota Memorial's main campus. A groundbreaking for that facility will be held later this spring. Combined, the hospital plans to spend more than $200 million on the facilities.

According to a press release, the 17,000-square-foot radiation oncology center will include two linear accelerators for external beam radiation, designed to destroy cancer cells while leaving normal cells intact; a CT scan simulator to define the location, shape and size of the treatment area; integrative care services to support a holistic approach to patient care; radiation oncology physician offices; and a serenity patio. 

Flad Architects’ Tampa-based team designed the oncology center. Gainesville-based Charles Perry Partners Inc. will partner with Sarasota-based Willis Smith Construction to build the center.

The inpatient and surgical oncology tower in Sarasota, meanwhile, will be a 170,000-square-foot, seven-story facility. It will consolidate cancer care services with its own parking and entrance; lobby and registration area; cancer support services; eight operating rooms, including dedicated robotic surgery suites; and two upper floors with private rooms for hospitalized cancer patients. The tower will connect to the main hospital on multiple levels, allowing access to other clinical and emergency care services.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center with more than 900,000 patient visits each year, a statement says. Its flagship hospital has 839 beds.