Dana-Farber breaks ground on Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital

BOSTON, MA, OCTOBER 19, 2026—Dana-Farber Cancer Institute broke ground on the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital during a ceremony that brought together leaders from across the Commonwealth, the City of Boston, Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the broader community. Today marks the beginning of construction of the region's only inpatient hospital dedicated exclusively to cancer care.

The 450,000-square-foot facility will feature 300 inpatient beds across ten floors and has been designed specifically around the needs of people with cancer and their families. Built to support the next generation of cancer treatment, the hospital will bring together world-class clinical care, groundbreaking research, and advanced technology in a single, integrated campus.

Hospital leadership was joined by elected officials, physicians, researchers, patients, donors, community leaders, and supporters to commemorate this historic milestone.

“Massachusetts is a global leader in cancer research and care because of institutions like Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the extraordinary doctors, researchers and health care workers who are changing lives every day,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital represents the next chapter of that leadership—bringing cutting-edge research and world-class care together to deliver better treatments and better outcomes for patients and families. We’re proud that the future of cancer care is being built right here in Massachusetts.”

The new hospital will strengthen Dana-Farber's clinical collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, creating an interconnected campus that supports closely coordinated outpatient care, inpatient services, and scientific discovery across the Longwood Medical Area. The proximity between researchers and clinicians will continue to accelerate Dana-Farber's bench-to-bedside model, helping translate discoveries into new treatments for patients.

“The greatest innovation is one that has the power to improve people’s lives, and this new facility will do exactly that for families here and around the world fighting cancer,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston is home to some of the greatest minds finding solutions to our toughest challenges, and the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital will lead the next generation of cancer care, bringing together exceptional clinical expertise and compassionate support for patients. We are excited to see this project move forward.”

The hospital was made possible through a joint philanthropic commitment from Josh and Anita Bekenstein and the Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine family. The transformational gift—the largest single gift in Dana-Farber's history—builds on the two families’ decades-long dedication to Dana-Farber’s mission of delivering expert, compassionate patient care while accelerating discoveries that improve outcomes for people with cancer around the world.

“Breaking ground on the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital marks the beginning of a new chapter for Dana-Farber and for cancer patients everywhere,” said Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “Every aspect of this hospital has been designed around the unique needs of people with cancer and their families. We are creating an environment where exceptional patient care, scientific discovery, and clinical innovation come together to improve lives today while accelerating the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”

As the clinical collaboration between Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center continues to grow, the new hospital will further strengthen multidisciplinary care across cancer care and related medical and surgical subspecialties while streamlining the patient experience.

“The Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration reflects a shared commitment to reimagining what cancer care can be for patients and families,” said Kevin Tabb, MD, president and CEO, Beth Israel Lahey Health. “Together, we are building something that has the potential to transform cancer care across our region while creating new opportunities to advance research and expand access to innovative therapies. It is especially meaningful to celebrate this moment as we also begin caring for breast oncology patients through the collaboration, turning that vision into reality for the people we serve.”

Located on the current site of the former Joslin Diabetes Center along Brookline Avenue, the hospital will become the centerpiece of a closely coordinated campus linking Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians. The facility has been designed to accommodate rapid advances in oncology, providing flexible clinical space capable of adapting to future innovations in cancer treatment and research.
 

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About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a global leader in cancer research and care, with a mission to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific discovery, clinical excellence, education, community engagement and advocacy. Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance of cancer research and care, offering more than 1,200 clinical trials and translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world. U.S. News & World Report recognized Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center as the Best Hospital for Cancer in Massachusetts and number three in the nation, and Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center as the Best Children’s Hospital for Cancer in the country, making Dana-Farber the only hospital in the country among the top three for both adult and pediatric cancer care. It is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

Media Contacts:
Erica Hinsley, Erica_Hinsley@dfci.harvard.edu
Molly McHale, Molly_McHale@dfci.harvard.edu