Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Alterations to Cancer Institute – 3rd Floor Research Wing

Murray Associates provided complete architectural services in conjunction with general contractor R.S. Mowery & Sons, Inc., to convert an existing individual laboratory and office spaces into a new 8,000 square foot Cancer Institute Research Wing.  As a major research laboratory, the project required a total gut of the existing suite, which necessitated the relocation of a number of the individual labs. A total of five labs were created at separate locations on the same floor to permanently accommodate the individual researchers displaced by the new wing.

Prior to relocation and demolition of the Cancer Institute suite, all exiting wood casework was inventoried for reuse in order to minimize the need to purchase new items.  Layouts for the Cancer Wing and relocated labs were tested throughout the design process, and all existing casework was able to be reused for the project.  All of the existing casework was repainted and provided with new tops. Concurrent with the relocation of the existing labs, two of the existing spaces within the suite were joined and quickly upgraded to allow the researchers to occupy the suite and begin planning and administration.  These spaces were transformed into offices and basic lab space for team leaders and new staff.

The new wing consists of three large lab spaces, an office suite, and a common equipment room. Each of the labs provides a number of workspaces for Lab Technicians, Research Assistants and students. In addition to the refurbished cabinetry with new tops, the labs are equipped with fume hoods, refrigerators, freezers, and various storage units.  The Common Equipment room houses a variety of specialized laboratory equipment, freezer and refrigeration units, and materials storage.