06/04/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/04/2025 10:49
Hope Plaza, the latest addition to City of Hope's Duarte campus, is an eight-story, 350,000-square-foot glass tower dedicated entirely to outpatient care. This new facility is a key part of City of Hope's expansion plan, designed to reimagine the campus and position the institution for the future of cancer care.
The design of Hope Plaza reflects a shift in cancer treatment philosophy, emphasizing outpatient care and the need for efficient, patient-centered services. The facility replaces four older buildings and introduces a new indoor parking structure adorned with 33,000 multi-colored panels. Patients and visitors are greeted by the Ted Schwartz Family Hope & Healing Park, a serene area with sculptures, native plants and a winding cobblestone path leading to the entrance.
Inside, Hope Plaza features a lobby that feels more like an upscale resort than a medical building, with natural light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the San Gabriel Mountains. The facility includes a café, a pharmacy, laboratories and helpful staff to guide visitors. Each floor is designed to minimize steps and maximize care, with elevators depositing patients in the center of each floor for easy access to services like imaging, mammography, hematology and infusion spaces.
"The workflow is really quite good for both patients and physicians," said F. Marc Stewart, M.D., City of Hope's chief medical officer. Hope Plaza consolidates services that were previously spread across multiple buildings, making it easier for patients to receive comprehensive care in one location.
Phan Luc, director of design, emphasized the importance of creating a space with "dignity" and "humanity." Special chairs, efficient layouts and "secret" gardens are just a few of the thoughtful design elements aimed at enhancing the patient experience.
"Everything is purposeful," Luc said. "When people enter Hope Plaza, we want them to feel dignified, to hold their heads up high and to know immediately that they are in a place of great care and great research."
Hope Plaza infusion roomHope Plaza is already bustling with activity. The transition from the old facilities to the new one was completed seamlessly over three days, thanks to meticulous planning and rehearsals with volunteers acting as patients. "It was the most amazing transition, with very few problems," Dr. Stewart noted.
Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "Patients love it," Dr. Stewart said. "They think it's fabulous. They love the open spaces, the views, how they can move through the clinics quicker."
Hope Plaza is only the midway point of City of Hope's expansion blueprint. Future plans include more complete radiology facilities, additional research space, and potentially an outpatient surgical center.
As Hope Plaza continues to evolve, its creators are proud of their accomplishment. "We nailed it!" Luc said, reflecting the sentiment of the entire team behind this transformative project.