MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center

Des Moines, Iowa

The MercyOne Richard L. Deming Cancer Center represents a transformative investment in patient-centered cancer care, where thoughtful design and advanced medicine work hand in hand. Across two phases, the project has reshaped the campus into a statewide destination for multidisciplinary treatment, clinical research, and holistic support.

Phase 1 realizes the vision to create a center of excellence that encompasses comprehensive, multidisciplinary and patient-centered compassionate cancer care for Iowans, expanding cancer care services and uniting nontraditional cancer care, survivorship and outpatient palliative care support services. A new entrance identity and expanded clinic facilities gave patients a clear sense of arrival, while daylight, natural materials, and intuitive wayfinding created spaces that reduce stress and reinforce dignity. Dedicated environments for wellness and survivorship affirmed the hospital's philosophy of treating the whole person.

Phase 2 advanced the center's architectural vision through a renovated Radiation Oncology Suite. Flexible treatment rooms accommodate evolving technologies, while telemetry-enabled workspaces foster collaboration among oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, and therapists. Patient areas were carefully planned for privacy and comfort, balancing the demands of precision treatment with warm finishes and calming light.

The result is a continuum of care expressed through design: an environment that embodies innovation, collaboration, and compassion. As Dr. Richard Deming has said, "Healing is not only about curing disease, but creating a space where patients feel hope, dignity, and connection." The Cancer Center now stands as a model of what community, philanthropy, and architecture can achieve together: precision treatment anchored in humanity.

Project completed while at INVISION — Role: Healthcare Planner

Photos by Cameron Campbell; Integrated Studio