A Good Neighbor

The new Dorrance H. Hamilton educational facility at Thomas Jefferson Medical College is downtown Philadelphia's largest infusion of green space in 50 years and the campus' first new building in 15. Town and gown considerations were important in its design.

"Burt Hill was approached to design the new 135,000-sq.-ft. Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, an educational facility that would create an integrated classroom setting in order to foster a team environment among students. During initial discussions, the school strongly emphasized its need for campus identity. For years, the urban Philadelphia grounds had been scattered throughout several city blocks, which made it difficult to unite the campus. The lack of campus identity also made it hard to establish a relationship with the neighboring community. It was clear that the new space would need to be aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional."

Read more here:
http://www.peterli.com/cpm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=2228