Project
Review: Winthrop P. Rockefeller
Cancer Institute Tower - |
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Location
- West Markham, Little Rock,
AR
Owner - University
of Arkansas For Medical
Sciences
Architectural Firms
- Cromwell Architects Engineers,
Little Rock, AR, Lead Architect:
Hrand DuValian, AIA, and
FKP Architects, Houston,
TX
General Contractor
- CDI Contractors, LLC,
Little Rock, AR
Stone Fabrication Contractor
- Arkansas Granite &
More, Benton, AR
Building Size; New
WPRCI is approximately 320,000
S.F. (including the Walker
Annex)
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Questions
for Hrand DuValian, AIA regarding
the project:
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Q.
What were some of the challenges
of the project, and how were
they overcome?
A. This
was the center of campus where
the research zone, hospital
zone, and outpatient zone met.
Connection to these buildings,
crossing two public streets,
physically attaching three buildings,
on top of one building, cantilevering
over another, enveloping a raised
bridge, reversing completely
the existing Cancer tower, and
tying the whole together so
it looks and acts like it was
always meant to be - and making
it feel like one institute and
campus - was the major challenge.
Q. What are some of the unique
architectural features of this
project?
A. An
eleven story atrium tied to
a 6-story wedge atrium tied
to a 2-story solarium with a
12-story open glass monumental
stair.
Q. What is an estimate
(very rough only) of how many
hours or manpower went into
the development and management
of this project?
A. Just
Cromwell's man hours were around
60,000 not including the mass
of consultants.
Q. Are there any other
comments or information that
you wish to share?
A. On
a personal note: The project
was a once in a lifetime project
that was a complete joy. I had
worked with the team on the
original expansion of the Walker
tower in the mid 90's, and I
knew it was designed to expand
horizontally. Ever since that
time, I had hoped to be a part
of that expansion and was blessed
with the opportunity to do it.
This is a group of selfless
physicians and administrators,
and their dedication really
made me want to give my all
to the project. It has been
hard but worth every minute.
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Comments
by Hrand DuValian, AIA regarding
a tour of the facilities during
the final phases of construction:
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(Photos
taken on June 22, 2010 by Robbie
Green, Photographer)
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"Here
is the New Winthrop P. Rockefeller
Cancer Institute Welcome/Information/Concierge
Desk."
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"This
desk is on access with
both the new front door
of the cancer institute
and, when renovation of
the existing tower is
complete, centered on
the existing front door
for direct line of site,
and orientation for patients.
The desk is made of Botticino
Marble, Autumn Harmony
Granite and figured Anigre
wood veneer. The materials
were selected for visual
impact, durability and
enhancing the building
theme of crisp cool modernism
juxtaposed to the warmth
of natural elements. The
clean off white marble
and warm browns bring
these two ideas together.
The arc shape echo's the
form of the room which
is a series of overlapped
sweeping curves originating
from the vehicle drop
off just out front. Functionally,
the need for it to face
two doors at 90 degrees
to each other, and the
ease of movement around
it reinforce the decision
for the curve."
Click
on images for enlargements.
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"This
building is about interconnectivity."
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"The
idea of spaces connecting
with the whole enhances
the concept of collaboration
and Translational Research
(definition: research
lab bench to bedside
medicine - or quickly
bringing research to
the patients as our
medical technology rapidly
progresses.) All the
waiting rooms are part
of this connected space.
A 12 story, 6 story
and two 2 story atria
are all interconnected.
This picture shows the
second floor future
women's clinic waiting
room overlooking the
new entry lobby."
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"The
building is designed with a more
Asian |
than European character."
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"It
is more about the experience
of numerous smaller
spaces with unexpected
views. More about the
journey than a destination."
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"The
front desk will be staffed by
two receptionists and two others
including volunteer services and
security."
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"Since
the final combined facility
will be over a half million
square feet, the concept
of a concierge service
front desk was envisioned.
The design plays off the
building's intersecting
planes. A lower curved
plane (at ADA height)
tucks under the upper
transaction counter plane.
Horizontal planes (counter
top and transaction surface)
being granite and vertical
planes of both marble
and wood."
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"The
back wall will highlight the
institute name in stainless
steel letters on the warm anigre
paneling."
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"To
keep the clean - non clinical
type appearance, printers
and fax machines will
be mounted in roll-out
shelves in the cabinets
below the back counter.
Ample space is provided
for supplies and stored
documents."
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"Since
UAMS is the densest urban space
in the state of Arkansas, and many
patients from rural areas of the
state will be coming to receive
treatment, simple way-finding is
a must." |
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"We
chose to use non-verbal
cues for this way-finding
to the greatest extent
possible. Thus the decision
to use a dramatic surface
on the elevator tower.
The design of the institute
is such that no patient
will ever be in a space
- unattended by institute
staff without the ability
to see the elevator tower
and know how to return
to their point of entrance.
We chose California Gold
Slate for its beautiful
naturally varied palate
of deep warm tones including
terracotta to blend with
the 'Burnt Pumpkin' campus
brick."
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"Entrances
to the elevator tower are marked
with a crisp bright white floating
ceiling projecting from the
rich deep tones of the slate."
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"The
elevator number (campus
way-finding) will be
mounted with three dimensional
aluminum letters above
the floating ceiling
and back lit to catch
the eye and improve
way-finding."
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"A
major concept in the design
of the building is the blurring
of the line between interior
and exterior."
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"This
is exemplified in the "Solarium,"
one of the 2 story atrium
spaces in the building.
The Solarium used to be
an alley behind the existing
cancer institute to access
the loading dock, some internal
campus buildings, for fire
trucks access, and the front
door of the central campus
MRI building that had become
obscured over the years
by all the adjacent construction.
Since much of the MRI needs
are directly attributed
to cancer patients, the
determination was made to
incorporate the MRI building
into the cancer institute
interior so that patients
didn't have to go outside
the building to enter the
MRI. The biggest challenge
to this idea is that the
MRI building (a one story
building) was 6' above the
existing cancer tower first
floor. A series of grand
steps and meandering ramps
in a garden like setting
was developed to resolve
this floor line disparity.
The space becomes a transition
between the central lobby/atrium
space and the exterior healing
garden and centers on the
fountain outside. Bringing
the brick inside, the use
of precast caped slate planter
walls, the natural light
from the large skylights
and clerestory windows above,
the use of exterior street
lights and accent landscape
lighting and interior planting
is all part of blurring
of the line. The upper end
of all planter walls is
at a sitting height for
those using the solarium
to sit and talk or have
a cup of coffee and contemplate."
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"Autumn
Harmony granite was used at numerous
transaction tops, and niches thru-out
the facility."
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"James
Scroggins, of UAMS Construction
and Contract Administration
stands with Hrand Duvalian of
Cromwell Architects Engineers
on the new cancer institute
drop off drive which is paved
with concrete pavers to highlight
the drive area."
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"The
pavers give a warmer - more
human scale while allowing
access to utilities in the
street below. The 3"
thick pavers in a herringbone
pattern were suggested by
the ICPI (Interlocking Concrete
Pavement Institute) as the
strongest solution for vehicular
traffic."
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"The
beautiful richly saturated colors
of the California Gold Slate
stand out against the white
walls, floors and ceilings allowing
the natural product to take
center stage."
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"Nature
is brought to the coffee bars
in the waiting rooms which are
highlighted with woodtones,
solid surface counters with
a metallic copper fleck, rich
slate walls and checkerboard
coffee brown and deep terracotta
linoleum flooring."
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"Hidden
sinks for a cleaner patient
friendly appearance and
space for recyclables
are built into each location."
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"The
infusion reception desk features
anigre and maple woods on the
vertical surfaces and Autumn
Harmony Granite on the horizontal
surfaces - echoing the feel
of the first floor Concierge
desk but using a smaller palate
of materials."
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"The
infusion Center is sprinkled
with nutrition areas for patients
and family members."
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"The same palate
used and Lobby Coffee
bars is used at all
places for nutrition
as a part of the non-verbal
way-finding system."
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"A
new connection bridge between
the existing hospital circulation
system and the new cancer institute
will house the Science Gallery."
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"Niches,
where previously located
windows were removed,
provide space for the
display of current science
advancements in cancer
research. Each niche will
display colorful photos,
charts and text and are
wired for interactive
Audio Visual displays
for those who choose to
delve further into the
science."
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"New
waiting rooms that spin around
the 12 story slate covered elevator
tower serve both the existing
cancer building (replacing existing
waiting rooms) and the new expansion."
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"All
waiting rooms are in
the central 12 story
atrium space where natural
light floods in from
floor to ceiling glass
curtain walls. Some
of the waiting rooms
have dramatic high ceilings.
The slate tile is in
an ashlar pattern from
floor line to 12' and
then subtly shifts to
a stack bond from the
12' line to the next
floor line. This reinforces
architectural banding
on both interior and
exterior of the building."
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"The
contemporary design and warm
tones are expressed in is semicircular
reception desk at the entrance
to the faculty office suite."
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"Again
- the use of interacting
and floating planes
are used, defying the
natural "heaviness"
of the granite transaction
surface."
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"Generation
teaching generation is the greatest
gift our industry has to offer
younger practitioners."
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"Light
floods in from the glass skin
that encloses the building."
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"Natural
light is both a more
uplifting, healing element,
and also is a free source
of light, cutting down
on the energy consumption
requirement and the
heat generated from
electric lights which
requires additional
energy for mechanical
systems. The "Low
E" glass allows
as much light as possible
without excessive heat
gain in summers or loss
in winters."
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"The
building is also about the intersection
of geometric forms and planes
creating a rich overlapping
pattern."
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"12 floors of the
patterns begin to set
a tapestry and unique
rhythmic texture."
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"A
twelve story monumental stair
spans the entire height of the
building and encourages building
users to live a healthier life
style by using stairs (when physically
able) for trips between adjacent
floors and reduces energy consumption
required for elevator access."
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"The
views to the Arkansas
State Capitol and down
town Little Rock are the
center piece to the stair
that cantilevers out to
a glass curtain wall on
both the south and east
side."
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