Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown

Project highlights: Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown

• Architecture firm:  Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• Owner:  Emory Healthcare
• Location: Atlanta
• Category: B
• Project Site: Not previously developed
• Building program type(s): Healthcare - hospital inpatient

• Most cancer hospitals bear witness to deeply personal journeys, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery, as patients also deal with the demands of daily life. Recognizing that both patients and providers deserve design that elevates their experiences, this care center in downtown Atlanta discards the conventional playbook and seeks to inspire the next generation of healthcare facilities.

  Robert Woodruff provided the original funding for the Winship Cancer Institute, part of Emory University Healthcare, in memory of his mother. Seventy years later, his namesake foundation provided a significant grant to expand the institute’s treatment capabilities through the new center at Emory’s Midtown Hospital. The client asked the team to design and build a center “never before seen or imagined,” something that completely reconsiders the model of cancer care delivery. 

  Central to the vision for the facility are its distinct two-story care communities, each of which is dedicated to treating specific types of cancer. Unlike conventional facilities, wherein patients with different cancers coexist, the institute provides tailored spaces that boost efficiency and personalize support. In many ways, they are discrete hospitals within a hospital. Building on the care communities is the universal, multidisciplinary care suite that allows an entire care team to provide comprehensive services within the comfort of a private room. 

Innovation activates numerous aspects of the facility, from two-sided linear accelerators that help reduce anxiety during radiation therapy to patient “living rooms” that provide respite for patients facing lengthy stays. The team’s design also offers on- and off-stage circulation pathways for both patients and providers, affording a high level of discretion.

At the urban scale, the project helps redefine the relationship between healthcare facilities and their surrounding communities, shifting the perception of hospitals to hubs of wellness. The institute revitalized the site by replacing an aged parking structure and surface lot, and its development features a compact parking structure adorned with an art program.

Throughout, architectural elements integrate with functional requirements with harmonious results. The institute’s distinct sawtooth exterior envelope mitigates solar gain and glare while also coordinating with the patient rooms to optimize views and provider observation. The relationship stretches through the interior and informs the corridors to facilitate intuitive wayfinding and shape designated spaces for clinical charting.

In recognition of its users’ diverse needs, the facility boasts versatile spaces beyond its clinical imperatives. Private workstations welcome visiting family members who may need to work, while quiet rooms offer solace for those who seek it. A food hall adjacent to a roof garden provides a refreshing escape and connections with nature. With its thoughtful design, the new institute elevates the treatment experience for all of its stakeholders and creates an uplifting experience for the community it serves.