Rutherford Cancer Centres
Opened in August 2018, The Rutherford Cancer Centre North East provides innovative cancer treatment to those living in the UK and abroad.
It is one of three state-of-the-art cancer treatment centres to have been developed by Rutherford Estates and is operated by the Rutherford Cancer Centres. It was quickly followed by the opening of the Rutherford Cancer Centre Thames Valley in October 2018.
Rutherford Estates’ approach to creating these environments is always with the patient and their families at its core. There is a relentless commitment to ensuring that the end result will contribute to reduced stress for patients and ultimately contribute to better life outcomes.
Both facilities have made significant architectural impacts and have recently nominated for regional RICS Awards. The North East facility is shortlisted in the ‘Community Benefit’ and ‘Design through Innovation’ categories. The Thames Valley facility is shortlisted in the ‘Design through Innovation’ category in the South East region.
The Rutherford Cancer Centre, North East is located in a small village called Bomarsund in Northumberland approximately 17 miles from Newcastle. It’s positioned on the Earth Balance site, which has been working with Northumberland County Council and the local community to promote education, sustainable development, protection and preservation of environment and the promotion of physical and mental health; in turn creating an ideal environment for the first Rutherford Cancer Centre in England.
It capitalises on the lakeside views of the property, with the attractive wild-flower planting and swales for run-off designed to soften the periphery of the site and help it blend into the surrounding countryside.
The high-quality finishes have been designed to be attractive without jarring against the rural setting, whilst using techniques such a grass roof coverings on external plant areas to settle them into their surroundings. Internally, the experience is more akin to a health spa than a medical institution, carefully designed to make people feel relaxed and comfortable at a time of stress.
The Thames Valley Centre is located on the Thames Valley Science Park (TVSP) in Shinfield, in the borough of Wokingham.
Each Cancer Centre benefits from bright, airy, double height reception spaces that are extensively glazed and help to connect the patient and their families to the wider environment. This creates a welcoming, therapeutic and calm environment for visitors and patients by providing space and light. The fit out includes a strong artistic theme throughout the centres which greet patients on arrival. This is supported by comfortable furnishings and a refreshments area.
The journey and wayfinding from the waiting area is very simple and clear, with patients being either directed towards the consultation rooms or the treatment areas that are accessed via a spine corridor running the length of each building.
Diagnostic and planning facilities are included on the ground floors, which include CT and MRI scanning equipment, and behind which sit the treatment areas for proton beam therapy and linear accelerators. Infusion therapy lounges are positioned on the first floor, so that patients can benefit not only from individual treatment cubicles but also from access to a first floor terrace which provides an area for outside seating.
Included within the buildings are the huge concrete lined underground vaults to house the Cyclotron, which produces the proton beam used in the innovative proton beam therapy.
Rutherford Estates appointed Interserve as the main contractor for the North East centre and Graham Construction for Thames Valley, working across both sites with Pravida Bau as the specialist radiation vault contractor.
A spokesperson for Rutherford Cancer Centres commented: “To be part of a team that has enabled widespread access to innovative cancer care treatment, in a beautiful location and a calming environment, both in the North East of England and the Thames Valley, is very rewarding.
“The Rutherford Cancer Centres and our partners are incredibly proud to have delivered these buildings which are already offering conventional cancer treatments and will welcome their first proton beam therapy patients in the summer.”
Both Cancer Centres are operational with patients receiving conventional cancer treatments. Proton beam therapy is due to come online at both sites in summer 2019. To find out more, please visit www.therutherford.com.
