Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Patient House

Seattle, WA

The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is a world-class cancer treatment center uniting doctors from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. This six-story, mixed-use building provides out-of-town oncology patients with a “home away from home” be it for a few weeks or a few months during their cancer treatment or post-operative recovery.

Recognizing the benefits for cancer patients to share their experience and to provide for mutual support, this facility differs from conventional housing by the provision of an extensive array of support services, amenities, and a communal kitchen located at the second level. By elevating this communal level one-story above the street (and providing it with a generous exterior courtyard), residents are allowed to be “part of the city, but removed from it”. Overall, this creates an oasis to diminish stress and promote healing.

The facility is further differentiated from conventional housing by the provision of a private alcove in each residential unit. This makes it possible for a caregiver to reside with the patient. Each residential unit (about the size of a conventional studio apartment) provides appropriate space and privacy for its occupants.

Recognition

AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Awards, Honor Award, 2011

AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture, Merit Award, 2011

Hanley Wood Award for Architectural Residential Design, 2011

AIA Seattle Future Shack Award, 2011

Gold Medal, The Building of America Network, 2010

LEED Gold Certification, 2011

Met Requirements of Architecture 2030 Challenge, 2010

Photography: Michael Burns, Cleary O’Farrell

Client
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Data
84,100 sf total
80 units
5,250-sf amenity and support services
2,780-sf offices
2,830-sf retail
40 below grade parking stalls

Completed
2009