Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Designing the future of cancer care

Healthcare & Wellness

The new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre will centralize treatment and care for cancer patients in southern Alberta. Symbolizing the type of care a patient can expect to receive, the design features two curving L-shaped forms that come together in an embrace surrounding an all-season garden as the “heart,” providing year-round access and views to nature for patients and their families.

DIALOG, in collaboration with Stantec, is responsible for the architectural and interior design as well as structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. DIALOG is also providing landscape architecture, planning and urban design.

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Location
Calgary, AB
Size
1,177,238 sq ft
Client
Alberta Health Services
Completion
2023
Sustainability
LEED® Gold
Collaborators

Stantec
Smith + Andersen
PCL Construction Management Inc.

DIALOG Services

Architecture
Electrical Engineering
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Mechanical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Planning & Urban Design

Large Scale

The new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre will become the largest cancer treatment and research facility in Canada and the second largest in North America.

Centralized treatment

Shaped around a seven-story podium building and six-story tower, the design of the building signals a shift in what is expected of modern healthcare facilities.

Complete care

The geometry and forms from the exterior building podium are carried through the two-story volume and reinforce the sense of entry into the building.

Designed for sustainability

A sensitive mapping solution centred around the internal “heart” courtyard considers wind flow, sun shadows, and iconic views to ensure patients are guided by and exposed to nature.

Peaceful environment

Targeting LEED Gold, the building is engineered to provide noise and vibration-free environments that promote patient healing.

Complete cancer care

The Centre will contain inpatient units, outpatient clinics, radiation therapy vaults and medical research lab spaces.

Long design life

Architecture is being used primarily as a vehicle to elicit a psychological response to bring into being feelings of trust, comfort, and resilience for patients, family, and staff.

The Team

Hospitals are traditionally designed to access oriented to the interior, which makes wayfinding difficult. Designing from the outside in, light can elegantly penetrate common areas, which is central to health and healing.

DIALOG-Stantec Healthcare Team
New Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre Virtual Tour Designing the future of cancer care
It started with a sketch

Two L-shaped structures embrace an inner courtyard, like a healing embrace.

The concept is expanded

What if a building could give a hug? This concept is refined through a rendering showing the building on the site from above.

The sketch takes on more detail

The building takes shape around the central courtyard.

The sketch becomes a model

The design idea comes to life in 3D.

Construction begins

The project broke ground in 2017.

Awards

2022 Project Delivery, Asset Management & Lifecycle Award Building Transformations - Innovation Spotlight Awards
2018 Design and Engineering AwardCanBIM