The Moffitt Cancer Center at Southshore, a new 75,000-square-foot clinic in Ruskin, Florida, is a satellite facility of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. The outpatient cancer care clinic offers a suite of services to Hillsborough County, including cancer screenings, radiation therapy and infusion services, diagnostic imaging, and medical oncology clinics. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin played an integral role in the new healing environment as both civil engineer and landscape architect. Additional project team members included The Beck Group and Hammes.
VHB took a site-specific approach to landscape design on the nine-acre campus, incorporating plants that complement the architecture, with an emphasis on enhancing entry and departure. Landscape designers built and utilized 3D models to inform decision-making with the team, demonstrating what different levels of plantings and other enhancements beyond code minimum requirements would look like.
“The landscape design provides a calming experience and enhances accessibility and continuity of care for patients, caregivers and staff, with clear lines of sight, seating areas for taking a break, and pockets of lush planting at patient drop-off and departures,” said Ivy Clinton, VHB gulf coast design studio lead.
The project also incorporated Evidence-Based healthcare design principles that included access to natural environments. This supports a patient’s healing and well-being by offering areas of respite and calming views from both inside and outside the walls of the building. The company’s water resources and engineering professionals provided drainage analysis and stormwater management to alleviate flooding impacts, while civil and roadway engineers designed improvements to accommodate access to the site.
Photo courtesy of Hammes
