Green Development Guides Planning

When staff members, trustees and community leaders gathered nearly two years ago to envision a new University Medical Center at Princeton, the groups agreed that the project should be built in an environmentally responsible manner. The group believed that "green" development standards should be applied not only to the new hospital in Plainsboro, but also to the redevelopment of the existing Witherspoon Street campus in Princeton.

The hospital itself will be built using the latest in green construction techniques. This will not only make the buildings more energy efficient but, according to clinical research, will enhance the quality of a patient's experience and speed the healing process. One method being discussed is the use of 100 percent outside air for heating and air conditioning. This technique significantly increases patient protection and disease control from potential threats such as an airborne epidemic.

Hospital planners are looking at ways to reuse significant portions of existing buildings, roads, parking lots and underground utilities on the new hospital site on U.S. Route 1 between Scudders Mill Road and Plainsboro Road. To protect natural areas, planners are exploring ways to remove buildings in the flood plain, add water features and create a buffer of vegetation between the hospital and Millstone River that can be used as a community park.

The Witherspoon Street campus also promises to be a model of smart growth in New Jersey, the nation's most densely developed state. Existing hospital buildings will be converted into as many as 280 residential units and retail space.

The amount of open space accessible to the public on the property will nearly double. Meanwhile, these new uses of the building will dramatically reduce traffic and on-street parking.

Princeton HealthCare System's plans for the adaptive re-use of the University Medical Center at Princeton Witherspoon Street campus were recognized by the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance (DVSGA).

According to the DVSGA, projects that receive recognition are "those that will foster regional growth and redevelopment in a manner that achieves important economic, environmental and quality of life objectives." The DVSGA promotes smart growth projects by recognizing proposed projects prior to development approval. Projects are reviewed by an independent, regionally diverse jury. Each project that is recognized--in compliance with the DVSGA's smart growth criteria--receives a letter of endorsement and an offer of testimony before local approval authorities.

The exact plans for both sites will be finalized following open, public planning meetings in the host communities. Throughout this process, PHCS will remain committed to the highest principles of sustainability, environmental responsibility and smart growth.