A recent site visit by Philly YIMBY revealed that exterior work is nearly complete at the Drexel University Health Sciences Building, which is under construction at 3601 Filbert Street in University City, West Philadelphia. Also known as the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions or the Wexford Drexel Academic Tower, the building rises 14 stories, with 12 primary plus two mechanical floors, and is designed by Ballinger and developed by Wexford Science & Technology, with Turner Construction as the contractor. Upon its anticipated completion later this year, the structure will span over 450,000 square feet and will house Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions as well as a significant portion of the functions of the College of Medicine. The building is a part of Wexford’s and Drexel’s 14-acre, jointly-developed uCity Square complex, which is rapidly transforming the northern section of University City.
YIMBY’s site visit found that the building’s sleek exterior of staggered glass is mostly complete, and the development appears on target for completion later this year.
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Developers of the Drexel University Health Sciences Building seek to secure a minimum of LEED-Silver certification for the project. The building will hold laboratories, offices, classrooms, simulation spaces, and physical therapy rooms, among other facilities. Turner aims for substantial completion by June, with the College of Nursing and Health Professions moving in shortly thereafter and the College of Medicine following in increments by next year. Drexel’s goal is to consolidate the majority of its medical sciences services within a single structure, while moving all College of Nursing facilities out of various Center City locations as their leases expire.
The architects managed to craft a design that is at once restrained yet distinctive. The conservative, slab-like form, which matches the scale and massing of nearby buildings, makes an individual gesture with a dramatic slanted notch at the north facade. The staggered cascade of alternating transparent and opaque panels mimics that of the high-rise building to the south, yet maintains a distinctive identity via the brown-beige coloring of the solid panels. Furthermore, both transparent and opaque panels appear to share the same degree of reflectivity, creating a mirror-like effect without resorting to the all-too-common “blue glass box” formula.
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
The Drexel University Health Sciences Building makes up what is currently the northern vanguard of the dense cluster of broad high-rise structures. Aside from One uCity Square, a tower of similar height under construction nearby to the northwest, the Health Sciences tower overlooks a landscape of parking lots and vacant properties. However, in the coming years, the area will be transformed into a vibrant neighborhood with laboratory, commercial, residential, and retail buildings, connected with a network of green space and public plazas.
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3601 Filbert Street. Photo by Jamie Meller. February 2022
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Why, in a neighborhood becoming full of modern high-rises, are the developers too cheap or inattentive to underground all those ugly and vulnerable utility wires?
Pretty sure that’s on the city, not the developer.
Exterior looked better on paper
Don’t they all.
What a dynamic building! Will there be a Public Art component inside the building’s entrance lobby, corridors, conference areas, etc.? I’m an artist known primarily for my public art projects for healthcare, science, technology and related areas. If so, I hope to offer my services for this striking architecture and look forward to hearing from you.
http://www.kaprov.com