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Major construction underway on new Cancer Center and Duke Medicine Pavilion

April 5, 2010 -

In early March, workers and machines began digging the foundations of the new Duke Cancer Center and Duke Medicine Pavilion—the beginning of major construction on buildings which will transform Duke University Hospital.

The commencement of work comes after nearly two years of preparation and planning and follows the completion of a list of preparatory projects that have cleared the way for major construction to begin.

“The time we have prepared for has arrived,” said Duke Hospital President Kevin Sowers, MSN, RN. “Construction activity will increase and continue until the buildings are complete, about three years from now.”

Major construction means that there will be more activity in the work area between Duke Clinic and Duke Hospital, but much thought and coordination has gone into plans to limit noise, dust and any other impacts the construction may have on patients, families, visitors and staff.

To minimize operational impacts, Duke’s Facility Planning, Design & Construction Department (FPDC) is working closely with groups as varied as Hospital Administration, Engineering & Operations, Infection Control, and Occupational and Environmental Safety Office. One example of this coordination includes a dedicated construction entrance on Erwin Road to separate construction vehicles from patient traffic on Trent Drive.

“We have broad-based coordination across the Duke Medicine,” said Shawn Subasic, director of FPDC. “The experience of patients and their families, visitors, faculty and staff was forefront in our minds as we made our construction plans.” Duke Clinic will remain open at all times, but there may be alterations in traffic flow during construction of the Cancer Center to assure employee and patient safety.

The overall excavation effort will take about two months and remove about 50,000 cubic yards of earth—or an amount equal to about 12 Olympic-size pools. Immediately following the excavation work, three tall tower cranes will be erected on the construction site. The cranes will help workers to lift steel, concrete, large tools, and a wide variety of other building materials during construction.