One of Penn State Health’s missions is to provide quality health care close to home for the people of central Pennsylvania. Lancaster County is home to a large Amish community as well as a diverse mix of businesses. The residents needed a health campus rooted in the local community, that highlighted the culturally important ideas of agrarian heritage, craft and tradition. Penn State Health set out to develop a new campus on former farmland that integrates the latest technologies and showcases its brand, while being flexible in adapting to future community needs – and do it quickly.

Penn State Lancaster Medical Center design draws from two main sources of inspiration: the City of Lancaster, with both modern and historic masonry architecture, and the surrounding farmland. The campus is accessible both by automobile and horse and buggy, with a shaded spot in the parking lot where water is available for horses. The green plaza connecting the hospital, medical office building and dining areas provides a place for respite. A pedestrian path circling the campus offers access to rehabilitated wetlands, which were formerly buried along the back edge of private farmland.

The interiors reflect a clean, modern design that represents the humble agrarian concept. Natural finishes highlighted with nature-inspired graphics and artwork demonstrates its connection to the outdoors. Abundant natural light pours into the multilevel circulation concourse that connects public areas for easy navigation through the hospital.