Last Beam in Place for New Todd Cancer Pavilion

Long Beach Memorial celebrated a construction milestone – the final piece of structural steel –of the new Todd Cancer Pavilion with a commemorative “Topping Out Ceremony.” Cancer survivors, current patients, hospital staff, physicians, construction crews and community leaders all gathered to be part of MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) history by autographing the building’s final piece of structural steel before watching it raised into place atop the new 64,000 sq. ft. specialized cancer pavilion.

After gathering hundreds of signatures, the final beam was lifted into place after those in attendance touched by cancer joined in signaling the crane operator to raise the beam. Three-time cancer survivor Susie Garrison, among those to motion the crane, shared her own journey with ovarian cancer. Speaking to the crowd in front of the new Pavilion, she said “It will make life much simpler for cancer patients and their families because it will give them the opportunity to find all of these incredible people and services in one location. It will be a dream.”

Tamra Kaplan, Chief Operating Officer, Long Beach Memorial, touched on the significance of the new Pavilion and how it will benefit the community, saying “This new pavilion will not only provide ample space for us to expand our capacity and provide additional patient services, it will offer these services all under one roof.” Kaplan also revered the Pavilion as “a place that will provide comfort and quality care for our patients in a warm and healing environment.”

Long Beach Memorial supporters and city leaders also were on hand to celebrate this milestone for the TCI Pavilion that will soon house the many available TCI cancer programs and cancer support services, giving patients and their families’ access to all they need under one roof.

The MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial is dedicated to the early diagnosis, treatment, research and education of patients with cancer or serious blood disorders. Through interdisciplinary treatment planning conferences, TCI specialists develop specialized treatment plans suited to the specific needs of each patient. As one of the largest cancer centers in Southern California, TCI treats more than 1,800 newly diagnosed cancer patients a year.

Once completed, this new state-of-the-art medical facility will increase the institute’s capacity allowing medical professionals to serve more patients and to provide leading-edge cancer care and research. McCarthy Building Companies, general contractor for the project, is working to transform the second and third floors of the existing four-level administration building into a dedicated cancer center. The project also includes construction of a two-level, 1,913-square-foot lobby addition which will serve as the entrance to the new pavilion. The finished Pavilion will enhance the strong reputation of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute for cancer diagnosis, individualized treatment and research.