Knight Cancer Research Building
A workplace for true team science
- Client
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Location
- Oregon, United States
- Size
- 320,000 square feet
- Status
- Completed
- LEED Platinum
Oregon Health and Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute envisioned a state-of-the-art research facility to support a team science approach, and the Knight Cancer Research Building fulfills this vision. It has been instrumental in recruiting approximately 250 of the world’s leading cancer researchers and physicians dedicated to curing cancer.
Located on Portland’s South Waterfront, our team designed the building to encourage radical levels of interaction and collaboration among researchers from different scientific disciplines — all to transform how cancer research is done. It includes open work spaces, large lab areas congregated at the center of four research floors and common areas on several floors where scientists share advanced lab equipment.
Breaking down silos to promote collaboration
Reducing the number of research floors and increasing the size of each floor allowed us to incorporate communicating stairs, which form functional and visual connections between floors and between research teams. The experimentalist laboratory and office suites are organized in interconnected “neighborhoods.”
These neighborhoods retain the modest scale researchers prefer, while providing the flexibility to reallocate space as needed. The extensive use of glass walls creates visual connections that reinforce the collective identity of the Knight Cancer Institute and allow more daylight into the building.
Human-centered spaces
The workspaces are visually connected through extensive glass partitions, fostering transparency and collaboration. Quiet areas offer researchers a retreat for reflective, private work. A central kitchen encourages social interaction during meals, while an intellectual lounge with an adjoining roof terrace provides a relaxing space for researchers to unwind and share discoveries. Casual seating throughout the building promotes chance encounters, nurturing a culture of collective goals.
The ground-floor conference center features a 200-seat auditorium and multiple meeting rooms, accommodating a variety of events. A retail café and additional amenities create a public zone that contributes to the long-term development of the research campus.
Testimonials
Healthy materials
As a facility focused on treating cancer, the LEED Platinum building was designed to meet the highest health and wellness standards. The materials selected are toxin-free and carcinogen-free. The team utilized a first of its kind matrix that maps product choices by sourcing, manufacturing, certification, and chemical content, with a special focus on identifying the source of carcinogens in the built environment. Referencing standards from the Living Building Challenge, IARC, and GreenScreen Benchmark, the unique evaluation tool served to educate the owner and design team on the impact that our decisions have on occupant health, as well as further the mission of the Institute to end cancer as we know it.
