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Louisiana Cancer Research Centre

US Health Sector Development design by RMJM Architects

Apr 28, 2009

British architects design cancer centre for hurricane-battered New Orleans

Louisiana Cancer Research Centre

A cancer research centre designed by UK-based architects RMJM in New Orleans – which is the least healthy state in the US and which has the highest rate of cancer deaths in the country – is now under construction.

images from RMJM architects

Louisiana Cancer Research Centre Building

The Louisiana Cancer Research Centre aims to address residents’ acute need for quality healthcare and will also boost investment in medical research which could help reinvigorate New Orleans’ economy which has struggled since 2005. Louisiana has a neglected medical infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and this is the first medical restoration initiative to get underway since the disaster.

Cancer survivors, state and local dignitaries today signed a massive concrete piling to mark the beginning of construction. Upon completion, the cancer centre will support laboratories for 72 principal researchers and their teams, as well as providing flexible research and office space.

The Centre will be operated by the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium (LCRC), a collaboration of three local universities’ health sciences programmes, offering access to technologies, services and scientific consultation that enhance scientific interaction and productivity. The bricks-and-mortar cancer centre has been on the drawing board for most of the past decade with design of the 10-storey, 175,000-square-foot building completed shortly after Hurricane Katrina by RMJM.

“It has been a long time coming, but the project is definitely on course now,” said Steven Moye, President/CEO of the Consortium. “It is the first of many state-of-the-art medical facilities planned for the city and it will pioneer breakthrough advances in detection, treatment and prevention of cancer while fostering economic development in Downtown.”

The research centre is located in what is known as the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Development District. Construction of the building is expected to be complete in 2012.

“The design includes a raised sculptural volume designed as a symbol of hope,” said Stephen McDaniel, RMJM’s leader in designing healthcare and research facilities.

RMJM is an international leader in designing medical and cancer research facilities. Its other projects include the Champalimaud Cancer Centre in Lisbon, Portugal; hospitals in New York City, Philadelphia, Singapore and Princeton; medical schools for Duke and Robert Wood Johnson University; biotechnology facilities for Genzyme in China and Alexandria Properties in New York and pharmaceutical clients including GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Novartis

Most of the funding for the centre was generated by an instruction from then- Louisiana State Rep. Mitch Landrieu to dedicate three cents of the Tobacco Tax to fund infrastructure and cancer research development for the consortium. Louisiana dedicated $102 million for planning and construction in 2007.

“Louisiana has the highest cancer rate in the country, with one Louisiana resident dying from cancer-related causes every hour,” said Dr. Augusto Ochoa, LCRC co-director. “The research that will be possible in this new facility will help us change those numbers in a positive way and help us save lives of people not just here, but around the world.

Louisiana Cancer Research Centre Building images / information from RMJM 280409

RMJM Architects

Location: Louisiana, USA

Charity Hospital New Orleans by RMJM Architects

picture from architect