The Institute is situated next to King's College Hospital, which currently provides high-quality palliative care for patients in South East London and the surrounding area. The Institute will integrate this care with teaching and research, creating a multi-professional environment examining every aspect of palliative care.

King's College London, our academic partner at the Institute, is the largest provider of healthcare education in Europe and has an international portfolio of research. 

Construction of the building started in 2008.  The building has been designed to be a welcoming and peaceful environment, sensitively designed with advice from Macmillan Cancer Support and in consultation with potential users and local patient groups such as Black Cancer Care. Ongoing user involvement will ensure that patients and their carers are able to guide and participate in our vision for the Institute and its future use. 

The building was designed by south London based architects Loates-Taylor Shannon, and has won a BREEM award for its environmental features. It is a light, landscaped space with a welcoming ambience; an open and integrated building, it promotes interaction and communication plus quiet, reflective spaces. Open plan offices are arranged around a light infused central atrium.

It comprises 1,800 sqm of floor space on three floors plus a roof garden. It will house around 100 researchers, academics, clinicians, rising to over 200 with students, patients and carers. It will comprise lecture rooms, meeting facilities, office and research space plus the Information and Support Centre.

There is also a programme of innovative art works and installations commissioned by King's College London and curated and managed by the Contemporary Arts Society.  'Light for Cicely' by Caroline McCarthy and 'Birches' by Tanya Kovats are now in place.

The Institute was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 5 May 2010.

Photograph by Greg Funnell