The building is located on the territory of Freeman Hospital: like all other such centers, it complements the oncology department of a large hospital. There, patients and their loved ones can receive psychological help or advice on a specific problem, communicate with each other, or simply drink tea in a comfortable, "home" environment that is as different as possible from the faceless hospital interiors.
The center in Newcastle has an L-shaped plan: its two wings are connected by a high rounded volume with a library and a staircase: from its upper tier you can get to the green roof of the building: there are sports equipment. The perimeter of the roof is a copper beech hedge, which echoes in color with the corten steel panels covering the upper tier of the facades. Solar panels are mounted on the roof of the "tower".
Between the wings of the building, there is a "therapeutic courtyard" facing south: all the premises of the center go there. To protect the courtyard from the wind and the glances of passers-by, shafts planted with flowers are delimited from the adjoining hospital parking lot.
The south facade of Maggie Center is dominated by glazing, which provides a connection with the environment and the use of solar heat to maintain a comfortable temperature in the interior. The northern facade, on the other hand, is almost blank.
To emphasize the "warmth" of the building, Callinan made extensive use of wood and ceramic tiles, as well as concrete, which he associates with tranquility.
