Jeff Sutterlin

Structural Option
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Somerset County, New Jersey

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Building Statistics

Building System Information

Architecture:

Following Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centers' tradition of "patient-oriented" cancer care, this facility is designed to create a serene environment for all of its patients. The actual building is strategically located on the north end of the 25-acre wooded lot to maximize patients' interaction with nature as they approach the building. The exterior of MSK articulates soft undulating curves with large windows. The façade's natural face, composed of brick and stone, accents the calming views of the mountain surrounding it. The interior of Memorial Sloan-Kettering creates a warm and reassuring yet sophisticated experience for patients. The exterior curves of the building transform the interior by creating dynamic hallways filled with natural light and breathtaking views of the wilderness around it. Soft tones and textures, natural materials such as wood and stone, a large fish aquarium, and many other interior elements are fine-tuned to focus on the patient. From an architectural standpoint, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center creates a soothing and relaxing atmosphere for all its patients. MSKCC prides itself on more then just its aesthetics appeal. The 85,000 square foot facility is the home of two Linear Accelerators for radiotherapy, 23 Chemotherapy Infusion Bays, 27 Office/Consultant Rooms, 38 Exam Rooms, a Lab, and a Pharmacy, all to provide the best cancer care available today.

Building Envelope:

The building envelope of Memorial Sloan-Kettering consists of curtain walls supported by its structural steel framing. The overall façade of MSK is primarily brick with vertical strips of stone panel offset between windows to give the building its natural look. Behind the 3-5/8" brick face, a typical curtain wall is made up mortar barrier mesh, 1 ½" thick rigid insulation, vapor barrier, and grout-filled, reinforced CMU's, typically 8" thick.

Along with the brick face, Memorial Sloan-Kettering's front façade is full of large windows. These windows frames span anywhere from 3' to 18' wide and have a typical height of about 8' on the west elevation, 5'-4" on the other three sides. The windows are made up of 1" insulated glass with aluminum framing. The front entrance of MSK is entirely glass, providing an open, welcome feel to the building. Similarly, the NW and SW corners of the building are incased entirely in spandrel glass for the top three floors, framing the brick façade inside and creating a symmetrical look.

Above the front entrance of MSK is a cantilevered canopy, providing shelter to entering patients and divides the glass façade from the brick. The canopy is made up of steel beams and ties directly into the structural framing of the building.

The roof is made of cast in place concrete slab. Also on the roof is a metal roof screen panel to contribute to the aesthetic appeal of MSK and hide all HVAC systems from sight.

Construction:

Type 1B - fully-noncombustible, fully sprinklered building

Unlimited floor area and maximum building height of 160 ft.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center will be built in to two-phase operation. Phase One of the building broke ground in September 2004 and is expected to be completed by June of 2006. The building was initially structurally delivered in packages; Foundations and Concrete Bid package, and a steel bid package. After all structural packages were assigned, the method of Gross Maximum Price (GMP) was used for the remainder of the construction period.

Phase Two of Memorial Sloan-Kettering is still in the design stage.

Zoning and Historical:

Business; no historical significance to site.

Major National Codes:

IBC 2000 - NJ Edition National Standard
Plumbing Code 2000
National Electric Code 2002
International Mechanical Code 2000

Structural:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's structural system consists of braced structural steel framing with a concrete foundation. The basement floor of the building is made up of 6" thick concrete slab on grade. The exterior foundation walls are 16 inches thick and basement's concrete columns are spaced on a 30'x30' grid.

The four stories above grade in Memorial Sloan-Kettering consist of structural steel columns, beams, and flanges. The floors are madu up of 4 1/2 " normal weight concrete slab on galvanized composite metal deck, and are supported by wide flange beams. A typical floor beam size is a W 16x26, while a typical girder ranges from W 24x68 to W 24x103. A typical column size is W 24x68. The building's architectural curve was created by bending W18x40 beams about their weak axis. Structural cross-bracing is provided to resist lateral wind forces.

The roof of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is also cast-in-place concrete slabs, 3 ½" thick and has a maximum unshored deck span of 8'-2" for a minimum of two continuous spans.

The canopy on the west side of the building is constructed with W24x 68 beams. These beams cantilever out 13'-6" feet from the building and have a moment resisting connection to the support columns.

The building has its radiotherapy area, called a Linear Accelerator, attached onto its south side. Because this area emits high levels of radiation, it is necessary for the structure surrounding it to be extremely thick. The Linear Accelerator walls consist of cast-in-place reinforced concrete and are between 4' and 8' thick. These walls must be placed in one continuous monolithic pour to ensure no vertical or horizontal joints. Similarly, the roof above the Linear Accelerator is 8' thick, and is placed in two separate pours.

A 275-car parking garage is attached to the northern side of the cancer center.

Lighting:

The first floor of MSK primarily uses downlighting to illuminate each area. All of the corridors throughout the floor are also accented with wall washers. The exam rooms on the first floor predominately use 1'x4' pendant fluorescent lighting. A skylight is provided on the south end of the first floor to bring natural light into the office area. A row of downlights surround the interior stairwell and the elevator lobby is uses wall washers to give the area a softer tone.

The second floor follows the same lighting schematic as the first floor. The corridors are lined with a mix of downlighting and wall washers. The offices and MRI rooms are light with 1'x4' fluorescent lights and 2'x4' fluorescent lights, respectively. A long row of downlighting lines the stairs ascending from the first floor lobby.

The third floor, home of the pharmacy and lab, is illuminated by a combination of fluorescent lighting and downlighting. The offices and exam rooms are lit exclusively by 1'x4' pendant fluorescent lights. Daylight also permeates the perimeter of the building through the large windows on all sides.

The fourth floor is light primarily by 4'-0" suspended fluorescent fixtures, and daylight from the windows.

The basement of MSK is lit entirely by 4'-0" suspended fluorescent fixtures. The parking garage is illuminated by downlights. The fire towers are light by 1'x4' fluorescent lights.

Electrical:

Awaiting more information pertaining to this system. Will be updated soon.

Mechanical:

The mechanical room and boiler room in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are both located in the basement. There are three large air handling units in the basement along with chiller water pumps, two boilers, hot water pumps, and a number of air separators. There are also three return air handling units (RAHU) and coils located on top of the roof, each having a 3-phase, 480 volt energy supply.

The interior portion of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a variable air volume system (VAV) for its HVAC system on every floor above grade. The perimeter areas of the building use continuous slot linear diffusers as its mechanical system.

There are two 250 ton chillers located on south side of the building which provide for all floors, including the roof. There is also room for two more 250 ton chillers right next to them.

Fire Protection / Life Safety:

Memorial Sloan Kettering follows all IBC fire-protection requirements. Being that the building is four stories tall, the floors are constructed with a two-hour fire rating, as is all the structural framing. Also in compliance with IBC code, the roof was constructed with a one-hour fire rating.

The interior of MSK also exhibits required fire protection. Two-hour rated fire walls are built throughout each floor to minimize the spread of a possible fire. All floors of the building possess an automatic wet sprinkler system. There are also sprinkler systems located in each of the elevator shafts. These sidewall sprinkler heads are temperature rated to 165°F with deflector and sprinkler guards. A fire pump and jockey pump are also provided with the system. A dry sprinkler system is in place throughout the parking garage.

Emergency lighting, standard smoke detectors, pull stations, and exit signs are all found throughout the building to assure that all codes are met.

Transportation:

The building is equipped with two passenger elevators, along with one larger service elevator. Two fire stairwells in MSK are located on opposite ends of the building. A third stairwell welcomes patients in the lobby and climbs up to the second floor.

The parking garage on the north side of Memorial Sloan-Kettering also has a passenger elevator.

Telecommunications:

The telecommunications room is located on the north side of MSK. More information will be provided at a later date.

Special Systems:

Nothing to report at the current time.

 

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