Anschutz Cancer Pavilion officially kicks off expansion with groundbreaking

University of Colorado Hospital President and CEO Bruce Schroffel speaks Oct. 4 during the groundbreaking ceremony for a planned expansion of the UCH Anschutz Cancer Pavilion.

The drive to expand resources for patients at the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion took a major step forward Monday when officials broke ground on a 40-000-square-foot expansion to the building. 

Officials from UCH and the University of Colorado Hospital Foundation turned earth on the $20 million project, an expansion that will add about 40,000 square feet and renovate more than 11,000 square feet at the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion. The facility currently focuses on specialized oncology and clinical research.

The funding will add access for about 11,000 new patients at the pavilion every year, and it will also add between 200 and 250 new, full-time employees at the center, officials said.

Monday’s ceremony included input from University of Colorado President and CEO Bruce Schroffel and UCHF Chairman Pete Coors. The event also saw a major funding announcement for the planned expansion. Christian Anschutz, son of Denver business bigwig and campus namesake Philip Anschutz, vowed to donate $1 million to fund the new building.

According to Cancer Center Expansion Committee Chairman Steve Bangert, the foundation is about halfway to meeting its fundraising goal of $20 million for the new facility, which would address growing demand at UCH’s cancer wing.

“The challenge is to make sure the families have access,” Bangert said. “There are many people driving by this facility as they drive to DIA, on their way to cancer centers in other states.”

In August, the UCHF announced its fundraising campaign for the expansion, titled “When You Hear the Words ‘You Have Cancer.’” The project would allow for more clinical trials at the cancer center, officials said, adding space and researchers to focus on specialized cancer research.

According to UCH and UCHF officials, the demand for care, research and other services at the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion has nearly doubled since the facility relocated to Aurora from Denver in 2000.