Neighborhoods of science

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

To address continued growth in research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) created a new home for its basic research programs at Longwood Center. Through the use of novel approaches to laboratory design and program clustering, the new facility facilitates collaboration, encourages new research directions and enhances the performance of high-impact research.

With this new facility, DFCI is able to accelerate the application of basic discovery and translational science to treatments that advance the basic and clinical science of cancer in order to improve the lives of individuals, families and the community.

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Neighbors in research

Due to the large floor plate, the laboratory design was based on the concept of establishing research neighborhoods of generic laboratory space designated for occupancy by chemistry, chemical biology, and biology. Research floors are organized around central spaces designed to promote interaction among the neighborhoods. An open stair connects the interactive spaces on three floors, and each space is designed to fulfill a distinct function, such as a gathering space for lunch, conference, or social space.

Since 2013, ARC has partnered with DFCI to fit out over 260,000 SF of wet lab, dry lab, office, and collaborative space for its researchers and staff. Research lab typologies include chemistry, chemical biology, structural biology, neurobiology, systems biology, and molecular therapeutics. Several specialty labs were also designed including an NMR lab, a vivarium, and a proteomics lab.