Sutter Health wanted a new building that would serve as a gate­way to the existing hospital campus and a “beacon of hope” to be seen throughout the community. This gateway is the first phase of a larger master plan for the hospital campus. The goal was to provide comprehensive services in an intimate, nurturing environment designed to promote more positive experiences for patient and staff.

The cancer center is situated at the edge of the campus on top of a prominent hilltop site. The top floor is wrapped in glass that provides uninterrupted views of the bay and when lit at night can be seen across Vallejo. This “beacon of hope” is meant to connect the building and Sutter Health’s services back to the community and draw people to the hospital campus. At street level on the community side of the building a large, cascading water feature serves as a landmark and campus gateway. The prominent water feature serves both practical and symbolic functions. It adorns the radiation oncology bunker, allowing the water to flow over the treatment area, connecting to the life-sustaining en­ergy of nature.

Inside the building the healing gardens are incorporated into the medical oncology and the radiation oncology treatment areas. By providing deep window recesses and large expanses of glass featuring views to a living painting of outdoor gardens and the panoramic landscape, visually connecting patients and staff to the soothing elements of nature. This connection to nature and the natural light is a proven aid to the healing process.

A two-story primary lobby with rich wood, stone and fabric materials make wayfinding easy. Windows offer therapeutic views to the bay. A serenity room with suede wall coverings, hand-blown glass, and local art offers a unique, quiet place to spend time alone or with family and friends. The freedom to be indoors or out, alone or with others, is a function of the building’s design to provide patients with options that optimize personal healing abilities.