Penn Health unveils plans for big medical facility in Radnor

The University of Pennsylvania Health System has presented preliminary development plans for an 18.2-acre site it bought in Radnor, Pa., four months ago.

The health system is proposing to construct a $100 million to $120 million medical facility off King of Prussia Road that would total 250,000 square feet and take up just half of the property. The site can accommodate another 250,000 square feet. Penn Health plans to identify another developer to pursue building that portion of the property. What that space would be is still being explored.

“That’s a question we continue to work through,” said Kevin Mahoney, senior vice president and chief administrative officer for the health system. “Should it be a hotel that could provide someone a place to stay the night before surgery? Could it be offices? Senior housing would be complimentary to our building.”

While that use hasn’t been determined neither has how Penn Health would handle the disposition of that site. It would consider either selling that portion of the property or retaining it and entering into a long-term lease with whomever ends up developing it.

What is firming up are the plans Penn Health has formed for the medical facility it wants to construct. The building would be L-shaped with one wing standing four stories and the other at six. Each level would be dedicated to different medical specialties. A parking structure is part of the plan as well as incorporating extensive landscaping and keeping a significant portion of the site green. Ballinger is the architect.

“We have high aspirations for the design of the building,” Mahoney said.

The health system has not made a formal submission to Radnor officials but is eager to get the process started. It has filed for a demolition permit to demolish the existing vacant structure on the site, which is an old facility originally used by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and later leased by other companies.

Penn Health bought the site at 145 King of Prussia Road in May for $35 million from BioMed Realty Trust, which had struggled for years to get it approved for a dense, mixed-use development. That plan was met with stiff resistance. When the opportunity arose for Penn Health to buy the highly visible, accessible property, it pounced. Even though it operates nearby at 250 King of Prussia Road, the land gives it plenty of room to expand along the Main Line and execute on a strategy of bolstering its presence regionally.

“We just started but as soon as we get approval we will get into the ground,” Mahoney said. “We’re going to get this right and we’re very excited about it.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal