Sletten Cancer Institute Remains Source of Pride Through Construction

As he retires this month from a career in construction that began when he was 20, Danny Shanahan recognized the Benefis team that was part of his final project: revising Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute.

Danny is Sletten Co.’s superintendent on the project, overseeing the project and acting as a go-between with the construction workers and the nurses, providers, maintenance, and administration at SCI.

“These are the best people I’ve worked for and with,” he said. “These doctors, nurses — everybody is the nicest in the world.”

Keeping SCI a welcoming, healing space for patients through several years of construction noise and dust is a challenge – a “difficult experience,” Danny said – but patients and their care teams have been gracious, and the construction crew has worked odd hours and with adaptations to reduce their impact.

“It’s very rewarding,” Danny said. “I hope the renovation means it’s more efficient and workable for patients and staff.”

He marveled at seeing a blank space become something amazing like the Husted Teaching Kitchen at SCI, which helps cancer patients learn how to stay nourished during treatment and more.

Danny also worked on another project at SCI updating the building with more provider offices. He started with Sletten Co. on the South Tower project and was amazed at the evolution of Benefis amid changing healthcare needs.

Matt Laughlin, Sletten’s general superintendent on the SCI project, also was involved with the original build.

“At the time, it was the most important job we had,” Matt said. “I’ve always been proud to be part of it.”

Bob Sletten was inspired by the vision of what would become Sletten Cancer Institute. He gave generously to develop SCI, and his visionary leadership inspired others to contribute. Sletten employees built the center and have donated to continue supporting the center as it’s been renovated.

Besides Bob’s passion for cancer care, Matt remembers many others intensely watching the project and deeply invested in how it would turn out. Cancer has touched his family, too.

“I’m not someone who hopes a building never changes,” he said. “I hope they always have everything they need to keep making SCI better.” 

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Mike Guelff, Sletten project manager on the SCI renovation, remembers the initial build as a “landmark project.” He was part of that project and has watched with pride as SCI has touched lives close to home.

He remembers the masonry challenge presented by the big fireplace in the lobby and the unique construction required for safety in radiation oncology, such as lead-lined walls and a ceiling more than 6 feet thick.

“That is construction you don’t get to do very often,” he said.

He’s learned on healthcare projects that technology can evolve so fast you don’t pick equipment until toward the end of a building project. So it only makes sense that Sletten Cancer Institute would continue evolving, too, as cancer care changes. Right now work is underway on an expanded infusion center.

“It’s important to everyone here,” he said. “It’s nice it’s stayed true to the vision.”

Work on Sletten Cancer Institute is expected to continue through 2024.