Project Case Studies

An analysis of Materials and Waste Management, Circulation and Transport of People, Materials and Equipment for the concept development of the Penn Medicine-HUP bed replacement project. TSG provided design options, space requirements, and vertical / horizontal transport methods to maximize the new tower’s ability to positively impact on the logistical challenges within that building as well as those in the existing facility and in their combined configurations.

The Penn Medical campus consisted of buildings and systems of various ages and conditions, which after decades of expansion required multiple logistical workarounds to support the hospital’s medical mission. As new buildings and functions were added the flow of people and materials increased and changed within the existing 1.8 million square foot infrastructure. The planned new patient tower provided an opportunity to assess the potential for logistics improvements throughout the campus.

TSG’s primary mission at the Penn Medicine facility was to determine to what extent the new building might address logistical challenges. Penn Medical – HUP and TSG recognized that all departments were working diligently within constraints and were eager to improve operations. For example, bed quantities and locations affected material volumes and the logic of transport paths. Foodservice locations affected the loading dock and transport paths. 

Vertical Transport studies were accomplished to determine the elevator systems that would be required so that their impacts on building heights, massing and building gross feet estimates could be considered for the planned design efforts. TSG’s studies would be utilized to ensure adequate considerations were embedded in the upcoming planning and design efforts.