Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Louisiana to open in September

The Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center construction project was launched in 2009. The project involved construction of the 49,000 square feet Houma Center that will offers services for oncology, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgical interventions, inpatient-care facility, community-outreach services and facilities for clinical-research trials. The total outlay of the project is $14.8 million.

The building has been constructed by McDonnel Group. The contractor used recycled materials for constructing the building. The building used less-toxic paints and adhesive. The contractors have given a green roof to the building with an attached air purification system that serves the purpose of building insulator as well. The green roof consists of a lush garden that acts as an environmental sanctuary for patients. McDonnel Group have also concentrated on making the building energy-efficient and reducing the carbon footprint during the process of construction.

The first floor of the facility will house radiation oncology and the second floor of the facility will be occupied by medical oncology. The new facility will have a discreet area for research. The chemotherapy area of the new center will double the size of the cancer center's existing area for chemotherapy. Further, the center is in close proximity to other services, such as pharmacy, which patients frequently require.

The Houma Center connects to the TGMC by means of a sky bridge. The center will be the first first hospital in Louisiana to win Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.