
Joe Rolfes
Senior Project DesignerHGAJoe has focused on the design and technical details of a variety of healthcare projects over his 14-year career. He works closely with the HGA team and healthcare stakeholders to define the design priorities related to the site, medical campus building, program, strategic goals, and brand identity. In the subsequent phases, he leads teams in the interpretation of the concept within the design details, considering building orientation, scale, interior spaces, material choices, wayfinding, and technical details.
E29 – Space to Heal, Room to Grow: Designing the Cancer Center of the Future
As breakthrough therapies and precision medicine rapidly advance, cancer care environments must evolve to meet the complex needs of patients, clinicia…As breakthrough therapies and precision medicine rapidly advance, cancer care environments must evolve to meet the complex needs of patients, clinicians, caregivers, and researchers. This presentation highlights how innovative planning and design can…As breakthrough therapies and precision medicine rapidly advance, cancer care environments must evolve to meet the complex needs of patients, clinicians, caregivers, and researchers. This presentation highlights how innovative planning and design can accelerate the future of cancer care by prioritizing flexibility, operational efficiency, and patient experience. The UK HealthCare Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Center serves as a model for 21st-ce…As breakthrough therapies and precision medicine rapidly advance, cancer care environments must evolve to meet the complex needs of patients, clinicians, caregivers, and researchers. This presentation highlights how innovative planning and design can accelerate the future of cancer care by prioritizing flexibility, operational efficiency, and patient experience. The UK HealthCare Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Center serves as a model for 21st-century cancer care, uniting dispersed services into one collaborative location. Through immersive operational workshops, the design team identified diverse stakeholder needs, driving a highly adaptive design process. The result is a beautiful facility built for flexibility: clinical modules allow exam and infusion spaces to shift as demands change, while specialized zones for cell therapy and bone marrow transplant uphold privacy and infection control. A welcoming space rooted in biophilic design and local project context, infusion pods support both staff workflow and individualized care, and shell spaces throughout the building enable growth and adaptation as needs evolve. The facility integrates traditional and advanced practices—such as precision medicine research, theranostics, and MR simulation screening—with amenities for a comprehensive cancer center. Join this session and discover how strategic design leadership can set new benchmarks for adaptable, patient-centered cancer care.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More