A new, 11-story medical tower is underway in West Philadelphia, promising to support short- and long-term job growth and innovation in healthcare. Ground was broken in late September for the 272,000-square foot building, creating 125 construction jobs. When complete in mid-2014, the building will house new permanent jobs, state-of-the-art, outpatient medical facilities and cutting-edge clinical research.
As reported in August in our sister publication, Flying Kite, the project is a joint venture between the University City Science Center and Wexford Science + Technology. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center will be the anchor tenant.
Michele Volpe, CEO of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, says her institution expects to create 50 to 60 new jobs – physical therapists, lab technicians, radiation technologists, phlebotomists – at the facility, which will serve as its orthopedics center for medical offices, outpatient procedures and clinical research. The building will also house other practice areas including general surgery, urology and the hospital’s internationally known mesothelioma program, led by Dr. Joe Friedberg, which includes treatment and a large research component.
The facility will also enable Penn Presbyterian to streamline its outpatient procedures, boosting efficiency and saving money, Volpe says.
For the Science Center, Penn Presbyterian's expansion onto the Science Center campus strengthens University City's unparalleled reputation as an eds and meds hub,” said Science Center President and CEO Stephen Tang in a statement. ” We are delighted that we'll be celebrating the Science Center's 50th anniversary in 2013 with construction cranes on our campus. It sends a positive message about the economic recovery, job creation and the desirability of University City as an innovation center.”
Source: Michele Volpe, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; University City Science Center
Writer: Elise Vider