Penn Medicine required a new ambulatory care facility due to the limitations of its previous space. The new $200 million facility located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, began as a visionary project with the goal of prioritizing both environmental sustainability and biophilia principles.

Transforming a neglected 1960s office building into a state-of-the-art four-story, 250,000-square-foot center, the facility’s design promotes efficiency in healthcare services while being able to minimize the parking lot coverage and converting the site into a lush green space. The site offers two rain gardens and a wet meadow featuring native drought-tolerant plants.

Eco-Priora™ permeable pavers were chosen for their aesthetic appeal and environmental advantages. These pavers facilitate rapid water infiltration, mitigating runoff, flooding and pollution risk. Enhanced with an Umbriano® finish, featuring EnduraColor™ and EasyClean™ technologies, the pavers promise long-lasting beauty. Behind the facility, is a U-Cara® retaining wall with Umbriano® panels in French Grey. Harmonizing with the landscape, these panels boast the same technologies as the pavers.

The facility has been embraced by the community since its opening, offering publicly accessible walking trails that support the local ecosystem. This achievement in environmental stewardship and biophilia reflects meticulous planning and product selection.