Why does MSK need to add the Pavilion now?

In New York City, 40,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed annually. By 2050, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that cancer cases will rise by nearly 50 percent, which could mean more than 60,000 cases each year in New York City alone.

The number of young people diagnosed with cancer, including colon, stomach, and breast cancers, is rising. With advances in medicine, people will also live longer over the next century, requiring more complex health care as they live longer with cancer.

These projections tell us it will be more demanding to treat cancer in the future. There will be more people who have cancer, and the complexity of care will increase.

While Memorial Hospital at 68th Street and York Avenue continues to function at capacity, it is critical that Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) build the Pavilion so that we have space to treat even more complex cancer cases in the future. In the Pavilion, we will be able to increase our capacity for surgeries at the hospital and make room to house the advanced equipment and technologies we will need in the future. These changes will let us treat more people with cancer in the future, and more complex cancer cases.

The Pavilion will be a new, state-of-the-art cancer care facility on MSK’s main campus, built entirely within MSK’s existing footprint on York Avenue between East 66th and 67th Streets. It is specifically designed to address the cancer care challenges of the future when cancer care will be even more complex.

How did you select the Pavilion site?

The Pavilion will serve as an extension of Memorial Hospital, connected via a two-story enclosed patient bridge over 67th street. This intentional design will ensure total integration with Memorial Hospital, guaranteeing the highest quality of care and safety for our patients.

When fully operational, the bridge will provide an efficient route to move critically ill patients, equipment, and faculty between Memorial Hospital and the Pavilion.

How many beds will the Pavilion hold?

The Pavilion will be entirely devoted to patient care, featuring 28 operating suites and 206 single-occupancy inpatient beds. This will support the projected influx of new patients requiring complex cancer care in the future.

Plans for the Pavilion have been carefully designed around the expected cancer needs of the future. Based on projections from the CDC, MSK will require an additional 28 operating rooms and 206 patient beds at minimum to address the rise in cases projected in the coming decades. The additional square footage, facilities, and advanced technology we incorporate into the Pavilion will ensure that Memorial Sloan Kettering can meet the evolving needs of aging cancer patients and provide high-quality care for generations to come.

What is the timeline for construction of the Pavilion?

The Pavilion is currently undergoing an extensive public review process, encompassing the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR). We encourage you to track the progress of the ULURP process in our ULURP tracker when it launches.

We currently expect construction of the Pavilion to be completed by 2030, pending completion of the required land use and environmental review processes.

We look forward to continuing discussions with the City and our community partners to ensure greater access to cancer care that meets the health needs of all New Yorkers and patients who come to Memorial Sloan Kettering for treatment.

Will patient care be disrupted by construction of the Pavilion?

Patient care will not be disrupted by construction of the Pavilion. The health, safety, and continued care of our patients and staff will always be our top priority, and we are working closely with the community, City, State, and other stakeholders to ensure minimal disruption to our hospital and community.

Memorial Hospital will remain operational throughout the duration of construction.

What impacts will construction have on the community?

As with all of our construction projects, our priority is to minimize any disruptions for our community, our employees, and the patients we serve. We are working diligently to design a construction plan with safeguards in place to mitigate impacts of construction throughout the duration of the project.

We will continue to engage with all constituents as the project progresses to ensure that we hear your concerns and incorporate feedback into our plans, and invite you to track updates to construction, relay concerns to our construction hotline, and collaborate with our construction working group once construction begins.

Where can I go if I have questions about the Pavilion project?

We are committed to engaging with our community throughout the planning and construction of the Pavilion. Please contact our community engagement team at [email protected] with questions or concerns. Once construction begins, we will also add a telephone hotline.