Cancer Institute plans facility in Summerlin

Judy Odierna

Monday, April 14, 2003 | 10:04 a.m.

The Nevada Cancer Institute announced plans Friday to open a flagship medical facility in Summerlin, but the organization's president also said that it has not ruled out a downtown Las Vegas urban campus.

In Summerlin, the federally funded nonprofit group will construct a more than 100,000-square-foot three-story building at a projected cost of $40 million. It's scheduled to open by 2004.

The facility is expected to feature state-of-the-art research labs, a clinical setting for clinical research and transitional research. There will be offices for institute-affiliated doctors, an information library, a lecture hall and a restaurant featuring organic foods.

Mayor Oscar Goodman wanted the institute to go on the city-owned 61 acres downtown. That was one of six sites considered, said Heather Murren, president of the institute.

A five-acre parcel owned by Howard Hughes Corp. off Town Center Drive near the Interstate 215 Beltway was chosen for several reasons: accessibility for research faculty and patients; the possibilities for expansion; the financial terms; and a compatible timeline for construction, Murren said.

"The Summerlin site was the only one to fit all our criteria," she said.

But Goodman may yet win a part of the institute action.

"We also intend to explore a second campus in the valley, which would be more of an urban setting, and we're in active discussions with (Goodman) for the 61 acres being the site for that campus," Murren said.

Elaine Sanchez, Goodman's spokeswoman, said: "The mayor looks forward to continued dialogue with the representatives of the Nevada Cancer Institute on the potential of having an urban center downtown."

Murren said the institute also hopes to establish a campus in Reno.

"We're immensely grateful," Murren said. "All of what was achieved could not possibly have come to fruition without an immense amount of support of people. Not only in direct contributions, although that's important, but to the people who donated their time and talent in designing our building. And also the immense work done by our federal delegation.

The institute was conceived and developed by Murren and her husband Jim Murren. Jim Murren is the president and chief financial officer of MGM MIRAGE.

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev. and John Ensign, R-Nev. and Reps. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., Shelley Berkley D-Nev., and Jon Porter R-Nev., all helped secure $1.9 million in federal money for the institute's continued progress. Gov. Kenny Guinn has pledged his support to the center and state First Lady Dema Guinn will be a board member.

The Nevada Cancer Institute has a working partnership with the University of Nevada in both Reno and Las Vegas and with the university's medical school.