A significant milestone was reached on Saturday when the hammerhead tower crane at the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion site of Sarasota Memorial Hospital was dismantled. This event marks a key point in the construction of the seven-story, 220,000-square-foot facility located on the north side of Waldemere Street, adjacent to the Jellison Cancer Institute Oncology Tower.
Designed by EYP Architects, now part of Page, the pavilion is being built on a site that previously housed the Cape Outpatient Surgery Center and another smaller building, both of which were demolished to clear the area for the new structure and its accompanying parking garage. Aerial photography from the dismantling day illustrates the extensive preparations, with surrounding roads barricaded and large mobile cranes positioned strategically along Waldemere Street.
The dismantling process began with the removal of counterweights from the crane’s rear, which were lowered using a mobile crane. Following this, rigging teams carefully detached sections of the jib, the crane’s long horizontal arm. Each piece was methodically lowered to the ground, where it was further disassembled into smaller components before being transported off-site. This phased operation was designed to minimize disruption to the ongoing hospital activities.
Construction progress is also visible in the facade work on the pavilion. The Waldemere Street elevation has seen nearly all levels above the ground floor enclosed with dark curtain wall glass, enhanced by horizontal metallic fins. Green sheathing indicates recent framing installations, which will soon be covered with exterior insulation and finished with stucco. On the Floyd Street elevation, glass and sheathing systems are being installed, gradually encasing the remaining exposed areas of the concrete shell.
The crane had been operational for the past year, facilitating the lifting of structural components necessary for reaching the pavilion’s full height and transporting heavy mechanical and electrical equipment for the adjacent support building. Earlier this summer, the construction team successfully topped out the structure and installed a pre-manufactured pedestrian bridge across Waldemere Street. This bridge will ensure uninterrupted access to care during the construction period while connecting the new pavilion to the existing Oncology Tower.
The Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion is a vital addition to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, which Sarasota Memorial initiated to provide patients with access to advanced medical treatments, cutting-edge technologies, clinical trials, and comprehensive supportive care within their community. When the pavilion opens in early 2026, it will centralize various outpatient cancer services, including surgical suites, advanced diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology, infusion therapy, integrative care clinics, and a new breast health center.
This pavilion joins the 2020 Radiation Oncology Center and the 2021 Oncology Tower as part of the expanding Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, creating a unified hub for oncology care across the Sarasota Memorial campus. Turner Construction Company serves as the general contractor for this project in collaboration with J2 Solutions. The crane was erected, operated, and ultimately dismantled by Lavoranti, ensuring a smooth construction process.
With the crane now removed, the focus shifts to completing the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion, a facility poised to enhance cancer care services for the Sarasota community.