The University of North Carolina Imaging Research Building brings together the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and the Institute for Nanomedicine for developing new therapies and drugs to combat cancer.

The synergy of combining all of these groups with the most advanced imaging equipment in the world enables scientists, clinicians and patients to have one unified physical and intellectual home for cancer research. The 10-story, 343,000 square foot building is set in the center of the University of North Carolina system flagship medical campus.

Significant challenges were overcome to fit the facility within 10 feet of the existing Lineberger Cancer Center and within 10 feet of an existing town-owned road. The design employed numerous urban high-rise construction techniques to shore the adjacent structures and infrastructure from the construction activities. Working as a team with the State Construction office, UNC Facilities Planning and Design; School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy, we completed the construction documents and the state permit documents three months ahead of schedule.

The project is a model of green design and has been registered as a LEED Silver with the USGBC with a goal to achieve Gold certification. Significant features include water harvesting, sun shading, optimal energy performance, innovative wastewater technologies and a 28% energy savings over base line comparisons.