Owner:
Institute of Oncology Research
Date:
2022-2023
“The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) was founded in 2003 to develop oncology research within the research department of the Institute of Oncology of Italian Switzerland (IOSI). In September 2011, the IOR became independent and was placed under the auspices of the Foundation for the Institute of Oncology Research, chaired by Professor Franco Cavalli.
Since 2017, it has been affiliated with the University of Italian Switzerland and a member of BIOS+, along with the Institute for Biomedical Research (IRB).
It was initially established in 2000 at Palazzo Fabrizia, located at Via Vela 6, Bellinzona (TI-CH), with the IRB laboratories.
The IOR currently comprises over 100 researchers and eight research groups conducting basic and translational research in oncology, organized around two research programs: one focused on solid tumours such as prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers; and the other on the study of haematological malignancies, particularly lymphomas.
The project has enabled continuous development over the past twenty years. The need for space for new equipment, laboratories, offices, and study rooms during these years necessitated the design and construction of a new building, so that (together with the IRB institute, built in 2021) a dedicated space for scientific cancer research is available in Bellinzona (TI).
The new IOR Institute and auditorium occupy a dedicated area of 7,228 m², adjacent to the IRB building (6,000 m²).
The architectural design incorporates the geometric, volumetric, and integration principles of the IRB building to ensure coherence between the two institutions.
The IRB atrium serves as the main entrance to the complex.
The future building is positioned parallel to the IRB, creating an interior garden/courtyard in front of the laboratories and shared services such as the restaurant, cafeteria, and day-care centre. The two institutions face each other in this garden, which is bathed in natural light.
The IRB's transparent east-west opening of the atrium is highlighted, creating a link between the two institutions and extending towards the auditorium, thus giving it a dual function: either public access to the outside world or for events and conferences related to scientific research or university teaching within the scientific hub.
This configuration allows for the overall development of the site, both for the portion dedicated to the scientific research center and for the landscaping of the green space on the other half of the site, as defined by the municipal development plan.
The east-west axis continues beyond the auditorium and enters a heavily wooded park, at the center of which the public and users will discover a circular clearing.
The ground floor includes the restaurant (nursery), conference and meeting rooms, offices for postdoctoral researchers, etc. It is functionally and closely connected to the auditorium atrium.
The first and second floors are dedicated to laboratories (BSL 2, 90 m² and 120 m² respectively, with communication spaces to ensure the flexibility of research teams).
The laboratories overlook the garden located between the two buildings; the facilities form a central core behind which are the offices overlooking the park.
Comfortable spaces for relaxation, discussion, and networking, including a small kitchen, are provided on each floor.
A glass walkway connects the IRB and the IOR on the first floor.
The basement, connected to the IRB, includes: • an SPF animal facility with a capacity of 3,000 cages (705 m²) • technical and service areas, the size of which is estimated based on that of the laboratories. The institute. Their location facilitates vertical circulation with the technical space situated in the center of the floors. • a 23-space parking lot. • connects to the lower level of the auditorium, which includes dressing rooms, technical rooms, and storage areas.
The auditorium can accommodate 260 spectators. It offers the possibility of organizing symposia, conferences, chamber music concerts, recitals, and film screenings, utilizing all new media, and is equipped with simultaneous translation booths.
Depending on its use, it benefits from natural light for conferences, symposia, debates, etc. Its volume provides acoustics suitable for cultural or musical events, conferences, etc.
For larger conferences or debates, the windows separating it from the atrium can be opened to increase its capacity, with part of the hall serving as a stage.
It can operate in collaboration with institutions or independently.
