of
The new Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the MSKCC Imaging Center provide cutting edge outpatient diagnostic and treatment services specifically for breast cancer, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services and medical and administrative office and support space. Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer in women. In the United States, it is the second most common cancer, and the second most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer).
Clearly, MSKCC’s new facility must be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of this prevalent and potentially fatal disease. To become the most effective center in the United States in the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, MSKCC and their design team completely rethought how to best deliver the myriad of medical services required when tackling cancer, in particular breast cancer. The overarching goal was to design an environment that first and foremost enhances the patient experience during the long ordeal that is cancer care.
The project programme and organizational planning were fine tuned to create an environment that facilitates the most efficient, stress-free delivery of breast cancer care for patients and a safe and effective environment for clinical staff. From the outset, the institution’s desire for an outpatient setting, distinct from the main hospital, further influenced the 220,000 sf building’s massing and exterior expression as a good neighbour, contextually blending with nearby residential buildings on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.