March 31, 2006
Dana-Farber to construct new, state-of-the-art Center for Cancer Care
A view from Joslin Park of what the Center for Cancer Care may look like when it is completed in 2011.
A new master plan for Dana-Farber's expansion over the next 5-10 years calls for construction of a state-of-the-art building for patient care and clinical research at 450 Brookline Ave. and leasing of substantial amounts of space, primarily in the Longwood Medical Area, for basic science laboratories and research support activities.
The addition of a patient-care center and the ongoing increase in laboratory space are critical to accomplishing the goals of the Institute's Strategic Plan, Benz said. That plan, which seeks to make Dana-Farber the "model cancer center" for patient care, basic science, and the research that bridges them, encourages stronger ties among staff in different fields and disciplines. By maintaining the Institute's traditional balance between research and clinical activities, the master plan will promote those kinds of interactions, Benz said.
"This is a very exciting time in the Institute's history," he remarked. "The expansion will result in a truly magnificent ambulatory care facility for patients and their families, extensive space for basic and clinical research, and increased opportunities for collaboration across disciplines."
New entrance
As part of these plans for growth, the new Center for Cancer Care will be constructed on Dana-Farber's last remaining parcel of land, the site currently occupied by the 454 Brookline Ave. building, the Redstone Animal Facility, and a surface parking lot adjacent to the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Research Laboratories. The building would rise 13 stories and sit atop an underground parking garage similar in depth to one under the Smith building, according to Vice President for Facilities Management Rick Shea.
The Center would serve as the new "front entrance" to the Institute, replacing the current one at 44 Binney St. It would include connections on multiple levels to the Smith building next door and the Dana/Mayer complex across Jimmy Fund Way, bringing research and clinical staff into close - and, hopefully, creative - proximity. Just as important, it presents an opportunity to build the latest, most advanced facility for patients participating in clinical trials, Benz said.
Groundbreaking for the Center, now being designed by the architectural firm Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, with design support by Miller Dyer Spears, may take place as early as this fall, with completion in 2011. Dana-Farber is working closely with the Boston Redevelopment Authority staff, city and elected officials, and local community representatives in the public review process for the Center for Cancer Care.
