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Jerde Completes New Campus Master Plan for Science Center

Posted on: Monday, 9 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

The Jerde Partnership today announced the completion of a revised master plan for a new Science Center campus in West Philadelphia's University City. The vision behind the master plan is to help Philadelphia, which is home to the nation's highest percentage of physicians engaged in research and educates more than 20 percent of the nation's physicians, maintain its position at the forefront of scientific research.

Under guidance and direction from the Science Center, Jerde conducted workshops to incorporate feedback from the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and other private and public agencies to develop a master plan that satisfies both the demand for quality office and research space and the need to create a sense of campus community that reinforces the Center's role as the synergistic hub of the academic and research institutions in the area.

"Since its founding, the Science Center has helped build more than 350 companies that have created thousands of jobs and attracted millions in investment," said Jill Felix, Science Center president and CEO. "We are very pleased with our success to date, but it is time to take steps to ensure growth and prosperity into the future." Felix continued, "The Jerde Partnership has applied their expertise in creating places where people enjoy living, working and relaxing to develop this innovative master plan. By incorporating leading edge research facilities with housing, retail and other community uses, the plan allows the Science Center to continue to play a key role in attracting scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and life sciences companies to Philadelphia."

By creating a formal and functional gateway to University City, the Science Center master plan showcases Philadelphia's unrivaled network of prestigious educational institutions and renowned medical facilities, which are located near 80 percent of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.

"Responding to the evolving needs of the Science Center, the marketplace and technology, this plan provides for a humanistic campus that will continue to support the incubation of ideas, serve the needs of its users and welcome the life sciences and greater Philadelphia communities to create a center of creativity and vitality," said Tim Magill, Jerde senior vice president and design principal.

The Science Center master plan is currently under consideration by Philadelphia's Regional Development Authority. A recent study by the Milken Institute ranks Philadelphia among the top biotech hubs in America. The city will host BIO 2005 International Convention, the world's largest biotech gathering.

About The Jerde Partnership

The Jerde Partnership is a visionary experience architecture firm that builds innovative places that deliver memorable experiences attracting millions of people everyday. As the firm that pioneered "placemaking," Jerde projects have consistent and lasting social, cultural and economic value throughout the world and promote further investment and revitalization. Jerde is based in Los Angeles, Calif. and has been designing projects worldwide for more than 25 years. The firm has received critical acclaim from the American Institute of Architects, Progressive Architecture, American Planning Association, and The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and others. Jerde currently has more than 30 projects in process in Europe, Asia and the United States.

About Science Center

The Science Center was formed in 1963 to provide companies with research space that would draw on the intellectual capital of the area, and to promote economic development in the district, which is home to more than 46,000 residents and 40,000 students. In 1968, the Science Center began providing full-service business incubation, and in 1999 opened Science Center Port, a plug-and-play environment offering entrepreneurs the specialized infrastructure and amenities needed to support new life sciences companies.

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