Key Takeaways
- Cancer remains one of Florida’s most persistent public health challenges, ranking as the state’s second leading cause of death for more than a decade, with roughly 115,000 new diagnoses each year.
- Adaptive reuse of existing retail space can accelerate access to advanced cancer care while reducing waste and extending the life of community infrastructure.
- Retail buildings with high ceilings, minimal columns and flexible floor plates can accommodate highly technical clinical needs, including linear accelerator vaults, without major structural reconstruction.
- Early collaboration between design teams, health systems and clinical partners ensures facility programming aligns with evolving clinical and operational requirements.
- Elevated interior design and future-ready planning help ambulatory care facilities balance clinical performance, patient dignity and long-term scalability as community needs grow.
Cancer has quietly become one of Florida’s most persistent public health challenges, holding its place as the state’s second leading cause of death for more than a decade, according to the Florida Department of Health. With roughly 115,000 residents receiving a new diagnosis each year, the need for accessible, high-quality treatment continues to grow. Tampa General Mass General Brigham Cancer Care in Palm Beach Gardens meets that need head‑on. Through the adaptive reuse of a former Pier 1 Imports retail store, the nearly 10,000‑square‑foot facility, designed by Gresham Smith, brings advanced radiation therapy closer to home for northern Palm Beach County patients while strengthening Tampa General Hospital (TGH)’s clinical partnership with Mass General Brigham.
Early Planning and Clinical Alignment
A continuation of Gresham Smith’s more than two‑decade relationship with TGH, the project builds on the firm’s deep expertise in radiation oncology environments and linear accelerator planning. TGH engaged the design team early to evaluate multiple potential sites and conduct rapid test fits. The partnership with Mass General Brigham introduced additional clinical and operational requirements, shaping the program and informing the final layout.
Gresham Smith’s Healthcare practice supplied full‑service design—from architecture and interiors to structural engineering, wayfinding, telecom design and planning—targeted at optimizing care delivery and reducing stress across the patient, family and staff experience.
Adaptive Reuse of a Retail Shell
The former retail building offered favorable conditions for conversion into a radiation oncology center. High ceilings, minimal columns and a flexible floor plate allowed the team to integrate a linear accelerator vault, which typically requires thick concrete walls and a deep ceiling shield, without major structural reconstruction. To meet radiation protection requirements, the team used NELCO shielding blocks, a first for TGH, which eliminated the logistical challenges of bringing concrete trucks into a retail environment and provided a removable solution should the center ever relocate. Mechanical and electrical systems were replaced to comply with healthcare airflow, filtration, and equipment standards, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can meet highly technical clinical needs.
Located within an open-air Mediterranean‑style retail center, the building also needed to maintain the mall’s established aesthetic. Gresham Smith collaborated with city reviewers to ensure exterior modifications aligned with local guidelines. Privacy solutions, including roller shades and frosted window film, protect patient dignity while preserving daylight and maintaining pedestrian‑friendly transparency.
Elevated Interiors That Support Ambulatory Care
Inside, the center is among the first to implement TGH’s new ambulatory design standards. Elevated finishes, including mosaic tile at reception, branded accent walls, curated artwork and refined millwork, create a warm, welcoming environment that balances sophistication with approachability.
The layout includes a reception area with a coffee bar, ten exam rooms, dedicated changing rooms, a shared staff lounge and conference room, and open physician work areas that encourage collaboration. A future‑ready shell space was planned for a second linear accelerator, and a five‑foot‑long fish tank feature wall, donated by a community partner, is expected to become a focal point that offers a calming, positive distraction for patients awaiting treatment.
Interior planning prioritizes patient dignity by separating gowned patients from fully clothed visitors and staff, ensuring discreet movement between changing rooms and imaging spaces. The linear accelerator vault and imaging rooms were designed to balance privacy with visibility, allowing staff to maintain clear sightlines while supporting a calm patient experience. Mechanical and electrical systems were engineered to support high-powered imaging and treatment equipment essential to modern radiation therapy.
Built-in Flexibility for Future Oncology Growth
The design anticipates future expansion, including the planned addition of a second linear accelerator. Staff work areas support evolving workflows, and the building’s flexible floor plate allows for reconfiguration as oncology services grow. The project illustrates how adaptive reuse can accelerate access to care while reducing waste and extending the life of existing community infrastructure.
A Community‑Based Expansion of Advanced Cancer Treatment
Tampa General Mass General Brigham Cancer Care expands access to advanced oncology care in Palm Beach County. The project reflects TGH’s longstanding partnership with Gresham Smith and a commitment to delivering high‑quality cancer care closer to home—showing how strategic adaptive reuse can transform underused retail space into a vital community health resource.
