Joseph E. Walther Hall houses scientific discovery for life-saving therapies, especially in cancer treatment. The design promotes collaboration among principal investigators and faculty researchers in multiple disciplines, and increases the application of research to patient care. The facility includes cancer, neuroscience and immunobiology programs, and has contributed to the recruitment of 90 new faculty members.
Positioned in between Research I and Research II, this building completes the IU School of Medicine Research Complex. Laboratory spaces are designed with flexibility to accommodate technological advancements. In addition to lab space Walther Hall includes instrumentation rooms, tissue culture rooms, specialized testing rooms, suites for BSL3 Research and vector production, as well as a cell repository and DNA serum bank.
The dynamic design blends traditional architectural materials with modern, reflecting the nature of research work. Undulating glass curtain walls, a crystal finished titanium-clad wall, and abstracted DNA strands comprise the contemporary two-story lobby. Expanses of glass contribute natural light and a view into the lobby from the outside. Metal finishes, use of color and the warmth of wood add visual interest in both public and private spaces.