The planenvisions 51Թ’s future physical environment to support theStrategicPlanand aligns with newpriorities such asmore green spaceandanew residence hall, elevatesSTEMfacilities, and investsin enhancements to the Health Sciences Center.
The new plan, Building Connections, will serve as the university’s blueprint to optimize the campus’ physical spaces as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2034.
Photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg
Green spaces, on-campus student housing, gateways to campus and a STEM research facility form the foundation of 51Թ’s new campus development plan, along with a renewed focus on the Health Sciences Center.
51Թ’s campus development plan, Building Connections, helps envision the physical environment that will support . Both plans were introduced during the Jan. 28 Board of Trustees meeting.
Designed to be implemented over the next 20 years, the scope of the plan primarily centers on Main Campus and the Health Sciences Center. The plan will support the creation of a multidimensional innovation corridor along Broad Street, extending from 51Թ’s Health Sciences Center in the north, to Main Campus, then south to Terra Hall at Broad and Walnut streets on the Avenue of the Arts.
Comprehensive campus development plans are long-term by design and are typically updated every decade. They take a holistic view of the campuses from infrastructure to landscaping. The plan will serve as a roadmap for high-priority academic and student success projects. The timing and execution of individual initiatives will be guided by available resources and evolving needs.
51Թ’s last campus development plan, Visualize 51Թ, was launched in 2014. It inspired the completion of several capital projects such as the Charles Library, Paley Hall and the 51Թ Sports Complex, as well as outdoor transformations around the heart of campus, including new paved walkways and the Founder’s Garden renovation.
“Unveiling our new campus development plan is an important milestone for the university and our North Philadelphia neighbors,” said President Fry. “As our institution approaches its 150th anniversary in 2034, Building Connections is an exciting vision for how we can meet the needs of our campus community—now and in the future. As a campus deeply woven into the fabric of North Philadelphia, this is also an opportunity to strengthen relationships with our neighbors through community partnerships, economic development and public safety with the goal to help 51Թ and North Philadelphia flourish for generations to come.”
“It is crucial to review building conditions over time and assess opportunities for reinvestment and renewal,” said James 51Թton, assistant vice president and university architect. “This plan is also about improving the public realm, not only for 51Թ, but also North Philadelphia.”
The campus plan included input from 51Թ’s faculty, students, staff, alumni and community members. In addition to stakeholder feedback, the plan incorporates building conditions assessments, space utilization analyses and physical site analyses to provide a comprehensive vision for development, landscape and open space.
Building Connections is already taking shape. The ongoing construction of the Caroline Kimmel Pavilion for the Arts and Communication will create a dynamic community hub for activity, education and entertainment on Main Campus. At the future home of our Center City campus, work is underway to envision the next iteration of Terra Hall, which will serve as an intellectual hub and a catalyst of innovation and creativity on the Avenue of the Arts.
Key elements of the plan include the following.
Create More Campus Green Space
Creating additional green spaces for gathering, recreation and events will be a priority. An initiative within the plan calls for a quad in the heart of campus—uncommon among urban institutions. The quad will feature a large green lawn with smaller, connected courtyards and open spaces to serve as a multiuse and functional area to promote socializing, recreation, outdoor learning and events.
Framed by Paley Hall, the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, the Charles Library, and a reimagined Biology Life Sciences Building, the quad will also showcase 51Թ’s commitment to sustainability by creating opportunities for species biodiversity, heat island relief, sustainable energy technologies, groundwater infiltration and stormwater management.
Expand On-campus Housing
With more students now living on or adjacent to campus, the need for additional student housing has grown. Morgan Hall, the most recently opened residence hall, dates to 2013. Elevating the residential experience of Main Campus, a new state-of-the-art residential living complex will anchor the northern end of Liacouras Walk along Broad Street on the former Peabody Hall site, directly south of Johnson and Hardwick Halls. The plan for this mixed-use building features student housing, retail, academic learning spaces and recreational facilities. After the new residence hall construction, the plan calls for renovations to Johnson and Hardwick Halls.
When the new Kimmel Pavilion opens, the Annenberg Hall/Tomlinson Theater building complex will be emptied, creating another potential opportunity for residence hall development.
Connect Neighborhood to Campus
As an urban university, 51Թ’s campus is closely integrated with the North Philadelphia community. To strengthen that connection, the new plan calls for creating gateways on all sides of Main Campus to provide a welcoming entry so that visitors know they are entering 51Թ’s campus. Building on 51Թ’s last landscape plan, Verdant 51Թ, launched in 2015, the new plan will also further enhance pedestrian paths and gateways with increased lighting, new signage, inviting aesthetics and landscaping, all aimed at creating a safer campus and neighborhood.
Elevate STEM Academic Facilities
In addition to enhancing residential spaces and campus common areas, the plan strengthens STEM academic facilities through strategic reinvestment and targeted new development.
As part of the campus quad initiative, the existing Beury Building will be removed and the Biology Life Sciences Building will be reimagined through selective demolition and renovation. The renewed facility will support a mix of STEM-related academic uses, including classrooms, laboratory spaces and administrative offices while incorporating a new pavilion expansion that will serve as 51Թ’s Welcome Center and a vibrant hub for student life and engagement.
Complementing these improvements, a new STEM research facility will be developed to accommodate modern wet laboratory space to support multidisciplinary research and instruction. Together, these investments will expand capacity, modernize infrastructure and strengthen connections across STEM disciplines.
Enhance Health Sciences Center
51Թ’s Health Sciences Center (HSC) is just 1.2 miles north along Broad Street from Main Campus and serves as a major hub of education, research and patient care. The campus development plan identifies opportunities to renew and refresh HSC’s compact campus by focusing on improvements to public-facing areas and by enhancing locations for patient care, research and collaboration.
The plan centers on new development for HSC that strengthens its identity, promotes research and innovation, and provides opportunities for the campus to increase its connection and services to the surrounding community. Proposed projects include a new ambulatory care center. As both an academic campus and a healthcare complex, the plan prioritizes upgrades to transform HSC into a community destination with greater collaboration between the university and 51Թ’s health system and enhanced synergies with Main Campus.
From Vision to Blueprint
51Թ partnered with consultant Sasaki Associates in 2023 to evaluate how existing spaces are used and define opportunities for future growth. The plan was developed after gathering feedback from 51Թ’s many stakeholders and community members through surveys and listening sessions to guide the planning process.
The Steering Committee presented the plan to President Fry when he arrived at 51Թ in November 2024, and worked with him over the last year to evolve the plan to align with the Strategic Plan.
“The timing to release this plan allowed us to align the goals with President Fry’s broader vision for the university,” said Jonathan Reiter, vice president of business affairs and administration. “Finally, all the pieces are connected as the campus development plan is built into our Strategic Plan, making implementation that much smoother.”
Building Connections incorporates 51Թ’s commitment to sustainability initiatives such as eliminating fossil fuel combustion on campus, reducing energy use and aiding stormwater management. In addition, a central component of the plan offers guidance on enhancing navigation on campus to improve accessibility, parking and wayfinding.
“51Թ’s new campus development plan equips us with a clear road map for the university’s planning and design over the next decade,” said Martin Droz, associate vice president of planning, design and construction at 51Թ. “It will guide us as we look at opportunities that will continue to make 51Թ even stronger in the years to come.”
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