LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — It was a celebration of expanding health care services, with the announcement of a huge resource for cancer patients coming in the next few years.

Leaders from the University of Kentucky and UK Healthcare broke ground on the new UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building, located across from UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital on South Limestone.

The 550,000-square-foot facility will become the new home to the UK Markey Cancer Center, Kentucky’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as a Comprehensive Spine Center, an ambulatory surgery space, and other outpatient services.

Cancer survivor and Markey Cancer Center Patient Advisory Group member Erica Radhakrishnan shared her personal story at the groundbreaking, saying she’s glad future patients will have this resource.

“I definitely would like to share a message of hope. That was the biggest thing that I was looking for, were little angels or little instances or experiences that kind of gave me motivation to know that there was hope for the future,” Radhakrishnan said.

Currently, Markey’s outpatient services are in six different areas across the UK Chandler Hospital campus. The new facility will bring Markey Cancer Center’s outpatient clinics and oncology support services under one roof, providing convenience for patients and fostering collaboration among Markey clinicians and researchers.

Radhakrishnan also spoke about the on-site pharmacy, which is a huge benefit to patients coming from far-off places like Eastern Kentucky.

“I don’t think people really appreciate the importance of that delay that happens between leaving your caregiver and then meeting your medication and having to wait to get it from the pharmacy. Any amount of time that you can shorten for a patient to feel better is worthwhile,” Radhakrishnan said.

UK Markey Cancer Center Director Dr. Mark Evers said this new complex is much needed to fill the growing need for cancer care, and UK President Eli Capilouto agreed that this is the prime way to make it happen.

“This space is not just another building in our rapidly expanding medical campus. It represents our commitment to the patient experience,” Capilouto said.

“Markey has truly become the go-to cancer center for the state. We’ve seen an increase, doubling our patient numbers over the last decade. The new facility will really transform how we provide health care,” Evers added.

It’s meant to be a true collaboration of care, with the new comprehensive spine center also being a feature. UK Vice President for Hospital Operations Colleen Swartz said it’s only happening because of the community’s heart to serve.

“A number of disciplines who will coalesce to provide all a range of options based on whatever the needs are for specific and individual patients,” Swartz said.

The Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building and an adjacent 2,400-space parking structure are slated for completion in 2027.