The Fred Pamela Buffett Cancer Center

Suzanne & Walter Scott Cancer Research Tower

  • 252,000 square feet
  • 98 labs
  • 10 total floors
  • Seven floors are dedicated to research, including breast, brain, pancreatic, GI, prostate, ​lymphoma, leukemia, lung, head and neck, and women’s cancer, as well as cancer ​vaccines, drug development, and pediatric cancer.
  • One floor of mechanical support; One level of underground research support space.
  • Lead gift from the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation.

C.L. Werner Cancer Hospital (Clinical Treatment Facility)

  • 325,000 square feet
  • Eight floors
  • Multidisciplinary outpatient area which includes clinics, infusion, radiation therapy, surgery, ​radiology and collaborative treatment/diagnostics
  • 108-bed inpatient hospital which includes three total floors
  • Lead gift from the C. L. Werner Foundation
  • Public Support:
  • Nebraska Legislature – $50 million pledged for the research tower
  • City of Omaha – $35 million
  • Douglas County – $5 million
  • Employee Support: $315,000
  • Private Support: Lead gift from Pamela & (the late) Fred C. Buffett. Other principal benefactors include the Robert B. Daugherty Foundation, ​Clarkson Regional Health Services, Peter Kiewit Foundation, the Holland Foundation, and Ruth & Bill Scott.


  • Economic Impact: The project created thousands of construction and thousands of other industry jobs citywide. In addition, approximately ​1,200 jobs were created at the medical center – each with an average salary of approximately $70,000. In all, the project is estimated to have ​created 4,657 new jobs in the Omaha metro area, infusing $537 million annually into the economy.

The Chihuly Sanctuary

  • The Chihuly Sanctuary is the cornerstone of the Fred and ​Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Healing Arts Program. The ​sanctuary is the most comprehensive healthcare ​environment structure ever created by world-renowned ​glass artist Dale Chihuly.


  • Located adjacent to the Infusion Center, surgery waiting ​area, and outpatient clinic on level four. There are 10 art ​experiences over two floors.


  • The Chihuly Sanctuary was supported by private funds. ​Walter Scott and his late wife, Suzanne, are the lead ​benefactors. Other donors include the Gail E. Davis family ​and Mary Jean and Hugh Williams.


  • Chihuly and his team have worked closely with the UNMC ​and Nebraska Medicine teams to create a space where ​patients, researchers, and caregivers can meditate and ​find a moment of peace.

Leslie’s Healing Garden

  • A place of respite for patients, families, and staff.


  • More than 20 different types of perennials throughout the garden’s 7,700 square feet.


  • The walkways are wide enough that patient beds can be rolled outside and along the ​pathways.

This is looking east from the 8th floor of the Durham Research ​Towers, taken before Swanson Hall was torn down to build the

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.