Oak Cancer Centre
- Location
- Sutton, UK
- Client
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and ISG
- Expertise
- Acoustics
- Architecture
- Design Management
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Lighting
- Sustainability
- Completion
- 2023
- Size
- 11,700 sq m
- Cost
- £80m
The new Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton enables clinicians to diagnose cancers at an earlier stage and has been designed to significantly enhance patient’s healthcare experience.
It becomes the Royal Marsden’s signature building within the world-renowned hospital and research hub in Sutton, located adjacent to The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and is an integral component of the new ‘London Cancer Hub’ - an emerging ‘knowledge cluster’, which will become a global leader for cancer research, treatment, and innovation.
Carefully considered, clinical design by BDP has created a blend of world-leading cancer research spaces, bringing together researchers in the Kuok Research Centre and outpatient activity, including 63 chemotherapy chairs in the Olayan Day Care Unit and the new Charles Wolfson Rapid Diagnostic Centre.
The provision of areas where staff and patients can interact with the healing qualities of nature is vital to the design. This creates a contemporary environment and a peaceful atmosphere with easy access to natural daylight, views, and fresh air.
Over six floors, the architecture has integrated multiple, easily accessible external terraces with a striking pergola on the top floor. Each of these provides crucial breathing space for respite for staff and patients. All 63 chemotherapy bays are oriented towards a newly landscaped garden, providing views of green space which enhance patients’ feelings of calm and wellness. The westerly aspect, full height glazing, and external vertical shading fins deliver a filtered, dappled sunlight effect to further enhance feelings of tranquillity.
HRH Prince William opens Oak Cancer Centre
His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince William, The Prince of Wales formally opened The Oak Cancer Centre at The Royal Marden NHS Foundation Trust's Sutton campus.
Speaking during the visit, HRH The Prince of Wales said: "The Oak Cancer Centre is a major milestone in both The Royal Marsden’s history and the future of early diagnosis. I was delighted to launch the appeal for this facility eight years ago and lay the foundation stone in 2020, so I am incredibly proud to be standing here with you all today in this beautiful building."
Using the very latest technology, the new Charles Wolfson Rapid Diagnostic Centre and the Kuok Research Centre will provide spaces for world class scientific research and development, which will advance lifesaving treatments and enable earlier, faster diagnosis for more people, enhancing outcomes. It also brings together more than 400 scientists and researchers into a space designed specifically to encourage collaboration at the very heart of the building. The design deliberately embraces the visibility and transparency of this vital work to provide a reassuring presence and real sense of progress and advancement for those being treated.
“The new Endoscopy Suite is an exciting addition to the services already available and will significantly improve our ability to see people with suspected symptoms of cancer, especially improving the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers. We’re now able to deliver high-quality diagnostic, screening and surveillance endoscopy in Sutton. We’ve had such positive feedback from patients about the quality of the service.”
Every part of the interior design is considered so that anxious patients are not further stressed by being disoriented or in cramped spaces while getting treatment. Patient areas provide the optimal healing environment through a comforting and humanised approach. The research and workplace areas demonstrate the latest collaborative working models, which will help to support the life-changing research being carried out, daily.
Daylight has been maximised where possible to enhance wellbeing and recovery. The feature atrium space avoids using downlights and instead integrates lighting in the ceiling coves, sealed for hygiene and ease of maintenance. This creates a very bright space by reflecting light off the ceiling and this sleek detailing is carried through to the lower levels and the infusion bays.
Light levels have been set as low as possible in the atrium to reflect the design concept to merge the interior and exterior, creating a connection with the landscape. Adjustable spots have been strategically placed for extra illumination as and when required. Integrated lighting in the skirting and planters and low level integrated lighting to the handrail of the staircase creates a warm glow and aids wayfinding. Miniature spotlights have been placed in the trees in the atrium to create the illusion of dappled light, designed to complement the leaf motif repeated in the balustrade.
The landscape architecture design at Royal Marsden Oak Cancer Centre includes an entrance garden with seating framed by trees and herbaceous planting. A new path from the Oak Cancer Centre, through the gardens provides improved accessibility to the Royal Marsden Campus. The garden features a mix of native trees, shrubs and planting, creating seasonal interest and enhancing the local biodiversity.
The entrance garden is complemented by a landscaped atrium lobby/waiting room as well as terraces at levels 3 and 4.
