Exacting Architecture

University of Kentucky Renovate Brachytherapy

The University of Kentucky Healthcare was looking for a team member to help lead the design of an expansion to their Markey Cancer Center, in order to offer more precise radiation oncology treatments and to enhance the experience for their patients.

The project consisted of a 6,552 sf below-grade addition to house one of the newest linear accelerators (Halcyon) in the industry, as well as a renovation to 5,374 sf of existing spaces to house, in part, their Brachytherapy program. Furthermore, the project included a new vault for CT sliding-gantry and HDR after loader, control rooms, prep recovery space, staff work rooms, hot lab, expanded waiting room, break room, exam rooms, toilet rooms, and other support spaces. JRA successfully addressed the site constraints by designing a creative and functional solution that allowed the project to be constructed between two existing buildings, an existing campus fiber communication duct, an existing underground tunnel, and simultaneously an open-air plaza above; all while keeping the existing facility operational.

JRA worked side-by-side with all the Owner’s stakeholders, including the project managers, department heads, the doctors, the radiologist, and other users. Furthermore, JRA was an active team member from the beginning, participating in travel reviews of other medical facilities and tours of multiple equipment vender manufacturers, all the way to attending the ribbon cutting ceremonial to celebrate the opening to the public.