The topography of the site is a natural asset in creating a campus of interest and possibility. The grade difference between the Wynnewood Road and Lancaster Avenue sides of the campus allows us to create unique site features, including underground parking structures, and nestle new buildings at the bottom of the property, leaving many neighbors' views unchanged.
And, by renovating and repurposing the seminary's gorgeous facilities, we will not only preserve history but give them new life.
The campus plan includes walking trails and green, public space for use by all.
By creating a space that fosters healthy lifestyles, we can reduce the risk of some of the most preventable chronic diseases such as: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and bone fractures, hypertension, respiratory disease and stroke among others.
In addition to utilizing best-in-class practices to rehabilitate, upgrade, and repurpose existing Seminary buildings, the development will serve as a model for land use and land protection, water management and efficiency, energy conservation and building resiliency.
Our plans for the site prioritize walkability. Pedestrian walkways would wind throughout the campus, including enhanced connectivity to the nearby SEPTA Overbrook train station. And, a pedestrian bridge is proposed to connect the campus with Lankenau Medical Center and promote safe travel by foot or bike across Lancaster Avenue.
This project is centered on the unique physical, emotional and wellness needs of older adults and the community at large. Health care is not about any single event — it's a long-term partnership. We plan to offer care in a convenient and integrative environment right on campus.
Here, active seniors can downsize their housing and spend their later years in the Lower Merion community they've always called home. The St. Charles campus will provide wellness opportunities that go well beyond traditional health care — spaces to gather and connect, senior services and activities, and ample outdoor acreage to relax. Serving our friends, neighbors and communities, as we have for generations, is more than a privilege. It’s an honor.