The PennFIRST integrated project delivery team, consisting of Foster + Partners, HDR, engineers BR+A, LF Driscoll, Balfour Beatty and Penn Medicine, set out to realize the ‘hospital of the future’. To rethink patient care with the wellbeing of staff and patients at the heart of their approach.
The 504 inpatient rooms are user-centered. Patients can use controls that allow for individual comfort and customization. Movement is minimized by creating rooms that are fitted for direct treatments as much as possible.
Patient rooms are fitted with an interactive footwall to integrate entertainment, room controls, communications, and medical record information. The screen and smart board helps engage patients and families with clinicians and keep them informed throughout their stay. Recognizing the importance of families, there is additional space for visitors to spend time and support their loved ones.
“The new Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is designed to completely redefine the future of healthcare. The building enables innovations that reflect University of Pennsylvania’s history of medical firsts, creating a truly flexible facility that molds itself to the needs of the patient. Responsive, adaptable and future-proof, it will allow the hospital to continue its crucial life-saving work and remain at the cutting edge of patient care.”
- Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman at Foster + Partners
The 72-bed floors were designed with a flexible planning system that enables them to be broken down into smaller unit sizes to respond to changing needs. The uncertainties experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have emphasized the need for flexibility.
For the floor layout the design team implemented an “on-stage/off-stage” model to minimize disruptions to patients and set aside spaces for clinical teams to collaborate.
The oval shape and facade color refer to the historic Penn campus and the adjacent University of Pennsylvania Museum with its rotunda. Its singular volume acts as a recognizable marker on the skyline of the campus. Gardens placed around the building are publicly accessible. A landscaped pedestrian path links the building with the public transport system.
The design team designed the Pavilion with the human experience in mind. The entrance spaces are welcoming with plentiful daylight and views to orient visitors. Circulation areas are lit indirectly for patient comfort.
Engaging works of art are placed throughout the ground level, such as a vibrant mural by Philadelphia-artist Odili Donald Odita and a signature sculpture “Decoding the Tree of Life” by Maya Lin.
