Boston – Payette recently announced it has completed the master plan feasibility studies for upgrades to healthcare, medical school and academic science buildings at both Temple University’s Health Sciences Campus and Boston College. The studies provide valuable data to building planners seeking to address strategic plans for campus growth and to better facilitate new technological initiatives between disciplines.
“We are pleased to have been chosen by both Temple and BC to help study and plan for their futures,” said Kevin Sullivan, FAIA, Payette principal-in-charge. “Our experience in these areas enabled us to identify the unique needs of these institutions and to work within their parameters to develop plans that makes sense for their individual growth and development.”
Temple University Health Sciences Campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Payette is just completed a long-range, flexible framework plan to guide future development of Temple University’s Health Sciences Campus (HSC) in North Philadelphia, which includes 3.9 million SF and 3,300 parking spaces. The Health Sciences Campus encompasses a broad range of professional schools dedicated to training the next generation of healthcare providers and advancing health science research. These include the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the College of Health
Professions and Social Work, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Podiatric Medicine. The Health Sciences Campus is also home to Temple University Hospital, the flagship of the Temple University Health System and the primary teaching site of Temple’s professional programs.
The HSC is located in North Philadelphia, a section of the city that has been suffering a long period of decline. Recognizing the role that anchor institutions such as academic medical centers can play as an economic engine to spur growth and development, the planning process engaged a complex set of stakeholders. The project involved identifying sites for new buildings, strategic renovations to existing buildings, implementation scenarios, landscape and streetscape improvements, as well as identifying opportunities for partnerships with private developers to provide retail and housing. Planning strategies centered on seeking opportunities for mixed-use development at the edges of this urban medical center campus to establish stronger and safer connections to existing transit nodes such as nearby subway and rail lines. A signature green open space, in conjunction with streetscape improvements, will provide a much-needed campus identity, bringing together a collection of disparate buildings into a cohesive whole. Careful consideration of the campus’ boundaries with the neighborhood will help knit the campus into its surrounding residential and commercial context, stimulating development to transform the medical center into a thriving district.
“Payette led an extremely clear and well organized process which succeeded in coalescing a very large group of constituents,” said Margaret Carney AIA, University Architect and Associate Vice President for Temple University. ”I believe this study has inspired change that will inspire not only the University and North Philadelphia, but other communities facing similar challenges.”