Penn Medicine leaders broke ground on a $401 million cancer center that promises cutting-edge care — and a greener future — for Central Jersey patients.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

Penn Medicine leaders and regional officials broke ground Monday, Oct. 20, on the Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center, a $401 million project set to transform cancer care in Central New Jersey.

The 200,000-square-foot facility will rise on the campus of Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro and is expected to open in May 2028, officials said.

The project includes a new six-story parking garage and a planned imaging center — the largest expansion for Princeton Health since the new hospital opened in 2012. Inside, the cancer center will feature more than 40 exam rooms, 30 infusion chairs, and two linear accelerators for radiation therapy.

The facility will connect local patients to specialists from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center in Philadelphia, along with access to advanced services like proton therapy, specialized surgery, and personalized cell therapies.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the center will pursue LEED Gold certification through green roofs, rain gardens, energy recovery systems, and renewable power sources that will supply half its annual energy use, officials said.

The project also supports Penn Medicine’s goal to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero operational carbon by 2042.

“This is a significant first step in our efforts to redefine cancer care in Central New Jersey,” said James Demetriades, CEO of Princeton Health. “The Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center will offer patients seamless access to clinical trials, personalized therapies, and coordinated care across our entire health system.”

“A cancer diagnosis disrupts routines and introduces a level of uncertainty that touches everything in a patient’s life,” said Kevin B. Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. “Across Penn Medicine, we continually work to ease that burden by improving access, convenience, and support throughout every step of treatment. The Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center will help us deliver cutting-edge research and clinical innovations to Central New Jersey, ensuring care that is close to home, carefully coordinated, and deeply compassionate.”