A rendering of the exterior of Stamford Health’s new Bennett Cancer Center.
Courtesy of Stamford Health
A rendering of Stamford Health’s new Bennett Cancer Center.
Courtesy of Stamford Health
Stamford Health President and CEO Kathleen Silard speaks about the status of FDA-approved abortion pill Mifepristone among doctors and elected officials outside Stamford Hospital in Stamford in this 2023 file photo.
Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media
Stamford Health is looking to expand access and capacity with plans to build a dedicated cancer center and a behavioral health facility as part of a multiyear construction project aimed at addressing the increasing demand for those services in Fairfield County.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, though officials said planning and other preliminary work are already underway. The project is estimated to cost $275 million.
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“This is really a transformation of the Bennett Cancer Center to meet some of the most important future healthcare needs in Stamford and Fairfield County,” said Kathleen Silard, president and CEO of Stamford Health. “It is our aspirational goal, our vision, to be the most trusted healthcare partner for the communities that we serve, and I think to that end, this is just another example of ways in which we’re delivering on that promise.”
Cancer diagnoses continue to rise nationwide, particularly among younger patients, as screening and testing improve. At the same time, advances in treatment are helping patients live longer and manage the disease more effectively, Silard said.
Although Stamford Health’s Bennett Cancer Center has undergone several renovations over the years, Silard said the facility has effectively outgrown its space as demand for treatment continues to increase. Stamford Health provided more than 13,000 medical infusion treatments and 7,500 radiation treatment to patients in fiscal year 2025, which officials say represents overall growth in demand for services.
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The new 73,000-square-foot cancer center would be located on the southwest corner of the campus and operated in collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.
The goal is to create a centralized destination for cancer care. The facility would bring together physician offices, radiation and infusion therapies, and a range of support services under one roof. Silard said the design is also intended to improve the patient experience through features such as convenient and accessible parking and dedicated patient drop-off and pick-up areas.
“This new facility is going to allow us to expand capacity, but it’s also going to incorporate the latest technologies,” Silard said. “Things like immunotherapy and CAR-T, which are really cutting-edge targeted genetic therapies that we are able to provide to patients, are really revolutionary and allow patients to live longer with less side effects from the treatments.”
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A rendering of the entrance and waiting area of Stamford Health’s new Van Munching Inpatient Rehab Unit.
Courtesy of Stamford Health
Behavioral health services have also emerged as one of the region’s most pressing healthcare needs. According to Stamford Health’s community health needs assessment, about one in four children in Stamford and Darien reported feeling anxious in 2025, while one in five experienced symptoms of depression. Alcohol use and vaping among young adults were also increasing.
For fiscal year 2026, for example, Stamford Health outpatient behavioral health saw over 4,200 patient visits, marking a 38% from the previous year.
Over the past several years, Stamford Health has invested in its ambulatory adult mental health services and developed specialized programs. However, Silard said a dedicated facility will allow the organization to increase inpatient capacity and expand treatment options.
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Liz Longmore, executive vice president and COO, said Stamford Health’s existing inpatient behavioral health and rehabilitation units are housed in one of the older buildings on the campus.
Under the plan, the existing Bennett Cancer Center would be converted into a two-floor behavioral health facility. The building would also house a partial hospitalization program for adults, offering structured treatment that bridges the gap between inpatient and outpatient care.
“Some patients need additional support in order to make that transition successfully, and to coordinate any care that they need after being hospitalized,” Longmore said. “So it’s an important part of the care continuum, and to be able to offer that, in addition to the outpatient behavioral health program that we started a couple of years ago, it’s a bridge in between the two.”
Plans also call for relocating the Van Munching inpatient rehabilitation unit to Stamford Hospital to better meet growing demand The unit provides care to patients who suffered from serious medical conditions, like stroke and traumatic injuries, to improve physical function. Officials said there’s been an 11% increase in rehab discharges in fiscal year 2026, compared to the previous period.
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The upgraded fourth-floor unit in the hospital tower would feature 20 private rooms, specialized spaces for brain injury care, and advanced physical therapy and rehabilitation equipment.
A rendering of patient room in Stamford Health’s new Van Munching Inpatient Rehab Unit.
Courtesy of Stamford Health
As part of the broader campus improvements, Stamford Health is also evaluating ways to increase parking capacity.
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“We are seeing growth in cancer and behavioral health, and it’s a good/bad thing,” Longmore said. “People are accessing the resources that we have, but we know that it is a need that’s going to continue to demonstrate demand.”