More convenient care for cancer patients is on the way to the St. John Health System, with the construction of the 69,000-square-foot Van Elslander Cancer Center.

Located on the eastern edge of Detroit on the St. John Hospital campus, the $19 million building is scheduled to open Oct. 1. The St. John Health System has seen its demand for cancer treatment more than double over the past four years, necessitating the new building. More than 5,400 new cancer cases will be seen throughout the health system, making it the third-largest provider of cancer care in the Detroit area.

Barton Malow, its subcontractors and about 50 building trades workers are currently on the job, putting up a three-story building that will provide enhanced radiation therapy, adult infusion service, oncology triage, a meditation chapel, pediatric oncology, and comprehensive breast cancer treatment, among other services.

"This building is basically a step up from an office building," said Barton Malow Senior Project Supt. Larry Dziedzic. "We're not building to hospital code, but there are fixtures here that you don't see in most buildings." Among them is a lead-lined "linear accelerator room" for radiation treatment.

The Van Elslander Cancer Center will include a feature called a "life enhancement center," which will have special rooms designated for massage therapy, reflexology, acupuncture, a mineral bath and a large open room for tai chi and yoga. It's part of what the St. John calls "respect for the spiritual side of healing."

"Instead of three different buildings, this will put all of our cancer services under one roof," said Donna Handley, special projects coordinator for the cancer center. "This is a huge move for us, and we think it will be wonderful for our patients and staff."

ONE OF 32 conductors feeding the 3,000-amp main panel at the new St. John cancer center is installed by the journeyman/apprentice team of Tony Goddeeris and son Mike of IBEW Local 58 and Shaw Electric.