Barbey Patient Care Pavilion, Cape Cod Hospital

Cape Cod Hospital serves as the region’s sole healthcare provider for a community shaped by an aging demographic and increasing demand for specialized care. For decades, residents requiring specialized or acute care, particularly oncology and cardiovascular services, often opted to seek treatment in Boston more than an hour away, compounding the physical and emotional strain for patients and their families. Expanding access to advanced care locally was essential, but it required a solution that aligned with both the hospital’s mission and the character of the Cape Cod community.

SmithGroup joined the project at a pivotal moment, bringing a fresh perspective that built on earlier efforts while recalibrating scale, cost and community fit. The result is the Edwin Barbey Patient Care Pavilion, a four-story, 142,500-square-foot addition to Cape Cod Hospital’s 38-acre waterfront campus in Hyannis. Delivered through a design-build partnership with Suffolk Construction, the pavilion consolidates cancer, cardiovascular and medical-surgical services into a right-sized, highly efficient facility that brings top-tier care closer to home.

Design decisions were guided by three core principles—Coastal Haven, Restorative Health and Beacon to the Community—ensuring the building reflects both its clinical purpose and its coastal setting. Exterior materials reinterpret the Cape’s clapboard and shingle vernacular through durable white and gray metal panels, while a stair tower articulated with full-height glazing functions as both a beacon to the community and an elevated destination within the building. Visible from the campus and beyond, the stairs provide staff with back of house access among departments that offer respite and panoramic views of the ocean, reinforcing a connection to place.

Inside, a palette of sandy neutrals, soft blues and driftwood-inspired textures evokes the surrounding shoreline, complemented by residentially scaled waiting areas designed to reduce stress and create a sense of familiarity. In the main lobby, a custom terrazzo floor anchors the experience, with flecks of mother-of-pearl and gentle blue hues capturing the movement and light of the ocean while providing a resilient surface for a high-traffic entry.

Programmatically, the pavilion is organized to balance privacy, efficiency and the patient experience. The Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center anchors the lower two floors with a dedicated entrance, housing radiation oncology on the first floor, including a CT simulator, brachytherapy suite and two linear accelerators. Medical oncology occupies the second floor, featuring 36 infusion bays filled with natural light – the majority of which are private - , a dedicated pharmacy, exam rooms and access to an outdoor healing terrace with views of Hyannis Harbor and Lewis Bay.

Programmatically, the pavilion is organized to balance privacy, efficiency and the patient experience. The Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center anchors the lower two floors with a dedicated entrance, housing radiation oncology on the first floor, including a CT simulator, brachytherapy suite and two linear accelerators. Medical oncology occupies the second floor, featuring 36 infusion bays filled with natural light – the majority of which are private - , a dedicated pharmacy, exam rooms and access to an outdoor healing terrace with views of Hyannis Harbor and Lewis Bay.

Specialized inpatient cardiology is centralized on the third floor within a dedicated 32‑bed unit. The fully built‑out fourth floor provides a 32‑bed inpatient swing unit, enabling phased modernization of the hospital’s existing inpatient facilities while supporting future expansion of trauma‑level services.

Located just one block from Hyannis Harbor and within proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the Barbey Patient Care Pavilion was designed to perform reliably in a demanding coastal environment. Resilience strategies were integral to the project, beginning with elevating both the building and its critical infrastructure—including emergency generators—approximately four feet above grade. This approach places the facility outside current floodplain, sea level rise and flood‑mapping projections, strengthening long‑term operational continuity for the hospital.

Sustainable strategies are complemented by an interior material palette selected with human health in mind, prioritizing low‑emitting finishes and durable, easy‑to‑maintain surfaces that support both patient well‑being and staff safety. Together, these measures ensure the pavilion is resilient, adaptable, and prepared to serve the community well into the future.

The state-of-the-art Barbey Patient Care Pavilion exemplifies Cape Cod Healthcare’s mission to deliver exceptional, community-centered care by expanding access to advanced oncology, cardiology, and clinical services. Bringing top-tier treatment closer to home, the project represents a carefully calibrated investment in community health—advancing Cape Cod Hospital’s evolution into a regional, tertiary medical center while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to excellence, equity, and local access to care.