Penn Presbyterian Medical Center PACU Renovation

To accommodate a growing patient population driven by the Scheie Eye Institute and the hospital’s gastro-intestinal program, Penn Medicine initiated the renovation of approximately 7,500 square feet of underutilized office and exam space within the Wright-Saunders Building at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The objective: to create a state-of-the-art Pre-Operative and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) that enhances perioperative care capacity.

Over a 24-month period, a multidisciplinary team—including E4H, TLC Engineers, Chesapeake Healthcare Planning, Keast & Hood Structural Engineers, and HSC Builders—collaborated to design and deliver the phased renovation. A central challenge was ensuring uninterrupted patient access during construction, particularly to the active Endoscopy Suite. To resolve this, the team implemented a phased strategy that began with constructing a temporary corridor, a new waiting and check-in area, and relocating GI scope and clean material storage.

Phase I successfully delivered the temporary corridor and permanent Endoscopy storage, allowing the main PACU construction to proceed. Once the new permanent corridor is completed and approved by the State of Pennsylvania, the temporary corridor will be removed, making way for four additional PACU bays and a new equipment storage area. Each construction phase is independently reviewed and approved by the state.

With the first two phases complete, the project is on track to provide expanded PACU capacity, supporting Penn Medicine’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.