The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in Houston, Texas for the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Building for Personalized Cancer Care. The event was held in preparation for construction of a new HDR-designed 12-story, 615,000-square-foot building.
The Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Building for Personalized Cancer Care is based on a different model from previous research buildings at MD Anderson, with two laboratory and two office wings surrounding a central collaborative core. Brian Kowalchuk, director of design at HDR notes that “the characteristics of space that enhance its use for interaction are essential to the facility; including abundant natural light, views to the outdoors, open atriums with wide stairs, and comfortable seating.”
HDR recently completed a targeted-therapies facility, the South Campus Research Building (SCRB) Number 4 for targeted therapies, and is currently working with MD Anderson on the development of a master plan that strategically connects its healthcare campus with its research campus. In implementing this master plan based on individual buildings, MD Anderson has started to look towards connecting buildings, and most importantly people, to create opportunities for interaction and collaboration.
A statement was read from William A. Daigneau, vice president of facilities and operations management at MD Anderson, explaining that the design reflects “the newest collaborative research trends in our fight against cancer…Its design is architecturally pleasing…its layout is highly functional and flexible…It will also be extremely efficient and one of the greenest facilities on campus.”
Located on the site of the former University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute, the facility is on a fast-track schedule, slated for completion in August 2014. Plans call for a two-story plinth with lab and office towers above. Two research wings are connected with a corridor along the exterior to maximize the interior laboratories’ flexibility to accommodate new and evolving methodologies and technologies. The lab wings will be connected to two adjacent office wings by a central collaboration space.
The first phase includes building core and shell design, and interior build-out of approximately 120,000 gross square-feet. This includes two floors of laboratories and one floor of clinical space, along with office, conference and building support spaces. Groups expected to occupy the new facility include The Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy as well as The Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, among others.
Ronald A. DePinho, MD, president of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center noted that “by building this facility and filling it with the brightest minds, state-of-the-art equipment, and the spirit of innovation, we expect to make significant advancements in research – especially in pancreatic cancer research and personalized cancer care therapy.”
HDR Architecture is responsible for the architecture and planning; engineering is by E&C, Walter P. Moore and Rogers Moore; interior design is by Courtney Harper & Associates; and Vaughn Construction is the construction manager.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. For eight of the past 10 years, including 2011, MD Anderson has ranked No. 1 in cancer care in “America’s Best Hospitals,” a survey published annually in U.S. News & World Report.
HDR architects, engineers and consultants are world-renowned for their award-winning designs for a full range of technologically advanced facilities for public and private sector healthcare, science + technology, and academic institutions. HDR is ranked No. 4 in Architectural Record’s 2011 Top 250 Design Firms survey. It is also ranked the No. 1 firm for healthcare design in four significant industry surveys: Modern Healthcare, Healthcare Design, World Architecture and Engineering News-Record. In Modern Healthcare’s Annual Construction and Design Survey, HDR has held the No. 1 ranking for eight consecutive years. The rapidly converging fields of life sciences, physical sciences and healthcare demand comprehensive design and technical expertise; the hallmark of HDR.
