February 1, 2008

Friday night was a special night at the UVA women's basketball game.

Both UVA coach Debbie Ryan and N.C. State coach Kay Yow have survived cancer.

Thats why UVA Health System chose that game as the first general public presentation of the drawings for the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center.

It will cover 150-thousand square feet and stand five stories tall.

With a $50-million price tag, planners say the most important thing about the building is that it will be an opportunity to bring all of the different parts of cancer care together in one place.

"Cancer is such a complicated disease. So many different kinds of medical specialties and psychological support need to really come together with a patient at the center in order to really provide the best care, said Dr. Michael Weber, director of the UVA Cancer Center.

The center is named after Emily Couric, the sister of CBS news anchor, Katie Couric.

Emily Couric was a state senator before dying of cancer in 2001.

Groundbreaking for the new center will take place on April 12th.

Developers say it will take about three years to complete.