Cancer Center Plans Expansion

Clinical Cancer Center Articles

Each week we will explore a new topic about the new Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. Below is the latest article. Below it is an archive of previous articles.

New Clinical Cancer Center Designed for Easy Wayfinding

The new Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center has been designed to help patients find their way around easily.

Concierge greeting. The parking garage and the covered drop-off have direct entrances to the Clinical Cancer Center’s inviting lobby. All visitors pass by the Concierge Desk, where representatives are available to provide directions and answer questions.
Simple choices. Once inside, moving around the building is easy. Take the elevator to the second floor for most cancer programs. Get off at the third floor for the Day Hospital, Breast Care Center or Radiation Oncology. Exiting the elevator on each floor, visitors have two choices — go right or go left. Clear signage points the way to each patient’s destination clinic.
Cancer Clinics. The second-floor Interdisciplinary Cancer Clinics are divided into four identical sections. Each section houses several different cancer programs. To help patients and visitors find their way to the right place, each section has been given an inspiring name: Life, Faith, Hope and Courage. Patients will go to the Cancer Clinics for their physician appointments.
Window corridors. All public circulation paths in the Clinical Cancer Center are through sunlit corridors along the perimeter of the building. Continuous outside views help orient visitors and provide a visual frame of reference. Research has shown that this makes wayfinding through a large building much easier. Whenever patients leave a main circulation path, they will be escorted by a member of their care team.

John Balzer, vice president of Facility Planning and Development, said this circulation plan makes the Clinical Cancer Center unique. “Instead of walking through a maze of internal corridors, patients and family members have unobstructed views of the outside,” Balzer said. “The natural light, views of trees and neighborhood landmarks help orient them, and the pleasant scenery reduces stress and anxiety.”