Simon Design Engineering awarded ACEC National Silver Award for Engineering Excellence for Dana Farber's new $350M Yawkey Center for Cancer Care in Boston, MA.

1. SIMON DESIGN ENGINEERING 2011
YAWKEY CENTER for CANCER CARE
DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

2. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Internationally known for its clinical excellence and cancer research, Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute (DFCI) is consistently recognized as one of the leading cancer research institutes in the
country. Between 2001 and 2008 alone, annual outpatient visits and infusions at DFCI increased
from approximately 140,000 to more than 264,000 along with clinical trials increasing by nearly
80%. DFCI sought to provide ample, state-of-the-art facilities for leading-edge treatment of
cancer and related diseases for the expanded patient population, and to create an enhanced
healing environment with a strong patient and family centered focus, improved patient safety,
and support for safe staff practices.
Utilizing the last buildable site
on the DFCI Longwood Campus
in Boston, Massachusetts, the
new Yawkey Center for Cancer
Care (YCCC) is a 275,000 square
foot building (198 ft x 186 ft
plan) with seven stories of
below-grade parking and fifteen
above-grade stories. To help
unite the DFCI campus, and to
alleviate pedestrian and vehicular
traffic, the design incorporates
both below and above-grade
connections to the adjacent Smith Fig. A: Site plan showing YCCC isolation slurry walls.
Building and the Dana Building
across the street. The facility represents the Institute’s forward-looking vision and according to
Dr. Edward Benz, president of DFCI, “The new YCCC is Dana-Farber’s response to the need
for the best 21st century cancer care and for new modes of clinical research designed to bring
better treatments to patients more quickly and safely.”
Working with the renowned ZGF Architects and Walsh Brothers construction team, Simon
Design Engineering (SDE) provided site engineering master planning and served as Structural
Engineer of Record for the superstructure and foundations. SDE brought over 20 years of
experience on the DFCI campus, including the structural and isolation design of the abutting
Smith Building. Intensive collaboration was demonstrated by the design and construction team,
which ultimately resulted in the project being completed two months ahead of schedule and on
budget.
The logistical challenges of this project were extraordinary. With no lay-down area, the roof of
the mechanical room was designed to provide a construction staging platform, tower crane
support, and earth retention to avert the use of tiebacks at the upper levels. Proximity to the
Medical Area Total Energy Plant (MATEP), which provides electricity, steam and chilled water
to the Longwood area, also presented a host of issues. The low-frequency vibrations produced by
its generators, if left unmitigated, would have a severe impact on DFCI’s sensitive operations.
The solution, isolate the building from the surrounding soil with a three-foot thick reinforced
concrete slurry wall that served as an excavation support system, groundwater cutoff, and a
permanent isolation wall. With no physical connection to the slurry walls that surround the
structure, the YCCC is literally a free-standing 22-story building that begins seven stories below
grade and is supported on isolated piers founded on bedrock.
ACEC 2011 SIMON DESIGN ENGINEERING page 1/2

3. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The slurry wall system is similar to the abutting 15 year old Smith Building, but significantly
more complicated; DFCI utilized the same design team as the Smith Building, including GEI
Consultants, Inc. for geotechnical services. The construction of the underground garage required
the excavation and removal of 20,000 tons of soil to a depth of 80 feet beneath Brookline
Avenue and 50 feet below the MATEP.
Supporting the slurry walls are 286 permanent tie back anchors, composed of 140 foot-long
bundles of steel cables (total of 75 miles of cable, weighing 148 tons). To ensure that there was
no uncontrolled soil loss during the tieback installation, a specially designed rig was used to
carefully manage the drilling process that occurred up to 60 feet below the groundwater table.
Computer generated 3D survey technology was utilized to monitor the settlement of the MATEP
during construction to insure its critical equipment incurred no impact.
Due to potential construction related vibrations and noise, the team utilized an innovative hydro-
mill drill rig to cut through the rock at the bottom of the slurry walls, without impacting the
sensitive operations of neighboring facilities. The hydro-mill technology cut the bedrock at a rate
10-15 times faster than traditional methods, saving three weeks on the schedule and preventing
shutdowns due to excessive vibrations.
The superstructure foundations are offset ten feet from the slurry wall to preclude the need to
expose the toe of the wall and reduce overall risk of vibration transmission. In some locations, it
was essential that columns slope inward ten feet from the ground floor to the lower level, while
avoiding large transfer girders at grade. For the deep foundations, SDE developed a vital
“caisson-in-a-can” solution that provided a watertight seal, which allowed for the piers to be
inspected and surrounded with a layer of isolation foam to reduce the transmission of ground
vibrations.
Protection of the public’s health during construction was a key initiative for the team. DFCI
included an emissions control element into the construction management plan. Detailed
specifications regarding standards for the idling of equipment and the reduction of hydrocarbons
were imposed on all subcontractors. The result, the YCCC project became the model for Greater
Boston Breathes Better and the team earned a Merit Award of Excellence from the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizing the incorporation of clean diesel strategies
into the construction management plan. Volatile organic compound (VOC) pollutants were
reduced by 42%, carbon monoxide by 31%, and particle matter by 20%. Nearly 100% of the
site’s waste was recycled.
The project is expected to receive a LEED Silver rating and is a pilot project in the Green Guide
for Healthcare Initiative. A primary goal of this project was to achieve a park-like setting; green
roof gardens with plantings have been incorporated on the roofs of the 4th, 11th, 12th, and 14th
floors and a healing garden is provided as a place of calm for patients, families, and caregivers.
Indoor air quality management plans to mitigate potential air quality hazards were also
implemented and low-emitting adhesives/sealants, paints/coatings and carpet systems were used
to reduce indoor air contaminants.
SDE provides DFCI: Owner’s Agent Services, Conceptual Project Design, Project Programming,
Value Engineering, Management, Parking Consulting, SER, Project Coordination, Material
Evaluation, Quality Assurance, Project Closeout.
ACEC 2011 SIMON DESIGN ENGINEERING page 2/2

4. RAW EXCAVATION

5. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Raw Excavation:
The view on the opposite side, looking south, has Brookline Avenue (and the
mechanical space/staging area) to the right, the MATEP directly ahead, and the Smith
Building to the left. This image displays the multiple construction operations and
logistical issues that the team had to coordinate on a daily basis; from right to left:
The reinforced concrete mechanical space roof, supported on steel columns is seen
being used for construction staging and lay-down. To the right of this image is
where the tower crane was located.
Excavators and dozers inside the hole move soil to the southwest corner to be
lifted up to the mechanical space roof for removal from the site.
Tieback anchor installation proceeded level by level as the hole was excavated.
The blue rig to the left is installing a P5-Level tieback under the MATEP; in order
to minimize the water pressure and reduce the potential for soil loss, the anchor
was installed from a ten-foot-high bench.
Behind the plywood wall is the Smith garage. Portions of the Smith slurry walls
were removed to make connections to the YCCC parking levels.
The man on the scaffolding is cutting a pocket in the Smith slurry wall, which later
supported the YCCC floor beams on slide bearings.
Just below the scaffolding, the small black circles are the abandoned Smith
tiebacks that were removed in a staged manner as excavation continued.
Also below the scaffolding is a sump pit used to remove the water that was trapped
in the hole after the slurry walls were complete. The slurry walls, which were toed
into bedrock, acted to cut off any additional groundwater from entering the
excavation.
Simon Design Engineering
Photo 1
Photography By: Krystal Layton

6. TOPPING OFF

7. Topping Off:
The image on the opposite side, taken during the topping off
ceremony, shows the continuation of the beloved tradition started
during the Smith Building construction. Providing moments of joy to
the pediatric patients, ironworkers spray painted the children’s names
on the steel framing. The patients will forever be a part of the YCCC
with their names emblazoned within the heart of the building; each
name serving as an eternal tribute to the courageous children receiving
cancer treatments, and the important work Dana-Farber will continue
to do in the new Yawkey Center.
The story of the bond between the craftsmen and young patients
became known as “Steeling their Courage.” Initially local, it was not
long before it was featured on ABC’s World News Tonight with host
Charlie Gibson. The following links tell the story:
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek/story?id=7024168&page=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17yvwYXEEZ8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87rKU7fg6DA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj4nHmV4DEY&NR=1
At the glass-enclosed stair tower, shown to the left, the names were
left exposed for all to see.

8. FINAL TOUCHES OF COLOR

9. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Final Touches of Color:
This view of the southwest corner of the building near construction
completion displays one of the many design modifications that were
required due to the constraints of the site. Working closely with the
General Contractor, Simon Design Engineering designed temporary
cantilevers that extended to the service elevators shown (note in the image
to the right, the cantilevers have been removed and the cladding
installation complete). Procured during the escalating construction market
of 2006-2007, contingencies were incorporated into the budget to account
for the potential inflationary effects. Design-assist partners were brought
onto the team early to facilitate, design, and procure key elements of the
project, including the curtainwall. This collaborative team approach
produced a façade consistent with the design vision of a signature building
while staying below budget through a blending of unitized curtainwall and
rain screen design.
Simon Design Engineering
Photo 3
Photography By: Krystal Layton
Photography By: Krystal
Photography By: Krystal Layton

10. CORNER VIEW

11. Corner View:
This corner perspective shows the third level, two-story “Healing Garden” which cantilevers out
over the public entrance to the building. The elevated garden space is visible to the public from the
street below and is being finished with materials sensitive to the patients’ health and emotional
needs. The YCCC is designed to provide ample, state-of-the-art facilities for leading-edge treatment
of cancer and related disease, but also focuses on providing an enhanced healing environment with
a strong patient and family centered focus.
This indoor sanctuary overlooking Joslin Park will consist of pathways with garden seating, natural
stone walls, colorful flowers that change seasonally, and a canopy of tall greenery that envelopes
visitors in a lush, serene environment. The healing garden will also contain a 20-by-28-foot glass
conservatory without plants, so immune-compromised patients can enjoy the surrounding elements
free of allergen or health concerns.
"Our patients and families requested a living healing garden, but with a limited outdoor landscape, it wasn't
realistic," says Wendy Gettleman, Dana-Farber's senior director of Planning, Design, and Construction. "So
we did the next best thing and put it inside."

12. URBAN GREEN

13. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Urban Green:
This image, taken from the YCCC-Smith connector bridge looking down on the fourth
level roof garden adjacent to the Smith Building on the right, is just one of four roof
gardens in the YCCC facility. The roofs at each building setback were utilized for
providing as much green space as possible to achieve a park-like setting. The native
shrubs and other plantings decrease storm water runoff, lower temperatures, improve air
quality, and offer a green vista for onlookers in nearby buildings. This helped with
attaining LEED points, but more importantly helped DFCI meet one if its primary goals
of providing a healing environment by brining nature back into the dense, urban
Longwood Medical Area. On the third floor, a healing garden also provides a place of
calm for patients, families, and caregivers. DFCI incorporated soothing earth tones and
the natural grain of eucalyptus and limestone throughout the building, infusing areas with
floods of natural light and frosted glass speckled with delicate butterflies.
“We’re trying to bring nature back to the site with a landscaped roof with trees and
benches along Brookline Avenue, notes architect Margaret DeBolt and colleague Isabelle
Arnold of ZGF. “It will be a small urban green space.”
Other Earth-friendly options in the works include providing adequate bicycle storage
and showering facilities. With the goal of minimizing patients’ exposure to toxins,
everything from cleansers to refrigerants to construction materials are carefully chosen.
DFCI insists on low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in carpeting
adhesives and chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been eliminated or
reduced from all construction materials.
Simon Design Engineering
Photo 5
Photography by: Krystal Layton

14. NEW FACE OF DFCI

15. Y A W K E Y C E N T E R for C A N C E R C A R E
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
New Face of DFCI:
This view of the northwest corner of the Yawkey Center for Cancer
Care at the intersection of Brookline Avenue and Jimmy Fund Way
reorients the public face of DFCI to Brookline Avenue, away from the
existing ineffectual entrance on Binney Street. It is the main entrance of
the building and for the first time provides the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute with a major street presence serving as a signature image with
access from both Brookline Avenue and Jimmy Fund Way. Some of the
many cantilevers, setbacks, and interior atrium spaces of the building
can be seen. The two-story lobby/atrium provides access to the third-
level walkway system that links all of DFCI’s buildings and connects
with Children’s and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals. A tunnel under
the Jimmy Fund Way also connects the YCCC with clinical support
facilities in the Dana Building and facilitates service access between the
Dana Building, YCCC, Smith Laboratories Building, and the upgraded
Smith loading dock.
Simon Design Engineering
Photo 6
Photography By: Krystal Layton