Highly specialized construction and a patient-centered design will allow a new cancer care center in Redmond, Ore., to offer a full spectrum of services for up to 300 people a day.

St. Charles Cancer Center is a 4.924 m² (53,000 sf) state-of-the-art facility that expands access to world-class cancer care across Central Oregon. It opened to patients on April 20 and was completed by Skanska USA. The two-story facility is approximately nine times the size of the previous facility. It includes 36 exam rooms, 22 chemotherapy infusion bays, and semi-private and private treatment spaces. Construction began in June 2024.

The project required highly specialized construction to support advanced cancer treatment technology. The concrete vault housing the linear accelerator features walls 1.8 m (6.5 ft) thick, with a ceiling thickness of 1.2 to 2.4 m (4 to 8 ft). Construction of this vault required approximately 140 truckloads of concrete—totaling nearly 2.54 million kg (5.6 million lb) of concrete—to meet stringent safety and performance requirements.

The building also incorporates mass timber structural elements, including 86 glulam beams and 30 cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The CLT panels make up more than 929 m² (10,000 sf) of the roof and second-floor structure.

Removing barriers to care

Trevor Wyckoff, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building in Oregon, says every detail of the project was geared to remove barriers to care. This meant using materials that support a calming, patient-centered environment, he says.

Designed to support both advanced treatment and patient comfort, St. Charles Cancer Center incorporates natural light, views of the Cascade Range, and space for integrative therapies.

It offers a full spectrum of services, including radiation oncology, chemotherapy infusion, surgical oncology, medical oncology, lab, pharmacy, and expanded support services. Advanced technology includes a Linear Accelerator, CT simulation, and a high-dose brachytherapy suite.