Dacon Corporation recently completed construction of the Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, a 7,500-square-foot renovation and expansion designed to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of Cape Ann residents who require state-of-the-art cancer care and other specialized medical services. The project was a collaborative effort of Dacon Corporation, JACA architects and Northeast Health System administrators, facility planners, Northeast Health Foundation staff, cancer care staff, and local  businesses, organizations and individuals.

The new space increases Addison Gilbert Hospital’s cancer care capacity and allows plenty of room for family members to accompany patients during treatments such as chemotherapy, biotherapy, antibiotic administration and fluid hydrations. Private areas within the center allow patients and their healthcare providers to discuss treatment plans and other issues in a confidential setting. In addition, the hospital’s affiliation with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston gives patients access to cutting-edge clinical trials’ treatment protocols without ever leaving Cape Ann. Support services for cancer patients and their families, such as Reiki and support groups, also take place on-site, allowing patients to receive all of the services they need in one comfortable and convenient location.

The center is also home to a number of Addison Gilbert Hospital’s medical specialty services including endocrinology, infectious disease, ophthalmologic laser surgery, orthopedics, podiatry, urology and surgical services. The active role of Addison Gilbert Hospital’s healthcare providers in the design and planning processes effectively improved both the center’s aesthetic feel and the flow of patients and staff, allowing for better efficiencies.

The center’s design is unique in its incorporation of “healing elements.” It is completely encased in glass, affording patients, visitors and staff an abundance of natural light and stunning views of Gloucester Harbor on one side and the Annisquam River on the other. Other elements such as the color scheme, scalloped and wave-shaped edging, and    leveled beach stone embedded into the flooring effectively brings Gloucester’s natural beauty to the indoor space.

The Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center is located on the fourth floor of Addison Gilbert Hospital, posing the construction challenge of getting the job done, on time and on budget, without disrupting the day-to-day-operations of the hospital’s day surgery department on the floor below. Dacon Corporation addressed that challenge with ease, never once interrupting the hospital’s ongoing operations. Dacon Corporation also completed construction of Northeast Health System’s Beverly Hospital at Danvers, Medical and Day Surgery Center last year.

The Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center opened its doors to patients in March and is effectively serving its intended purpose of affording Cape Ann residents local access to specialized cancer and specialty care.

“The Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center turned out very well. The space is gorgeous. The view is beautiful. We are able to treat more people here in a natural, healing environment. There is often no need for patients to travel to Boston, or even off of Cape Ann, to get the progressive, state-of-the-art treatment they need. I think being a part of this process has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved.”

Cynthia Cafasso Donaldson Executive Director of Addison Gilbert Hospital and Vice President of Ancillary Services

About Dacon Corporation
For more than 20 years, Dacon Corporation — a fully integrated design and construction management firm that provides single-source solutions to clients’ most challenging facility requirements – has provided exceptional design, engineering and construction services for hundreds of office, medical/life science, manufacturing and warehouse/distribution facilities.

Dacon takes great pride in delivering end-results — on time and on budget -- that meet each client’s specifications down to the smallest detail. Dacon’s clients include nationally based Fortune 500 companies, international European-based companies, local developers and private corporations.