Geisinger South Tower Expansion
Danville, PA
Geisinger Medical Center’s South Tower marks a significant transformation of its Danville campus, setting a new standard for how patients and visitors experience healthcare. The expansion introduces a cohesive architectural and interior design strategy that reframes the arrival sequence, beginning with an extended drop-off, transitioning through a two-story lobby, and flowing seamlessly into upgraded public circulation. Every touchpoint is designed to offer clarity, comfort, and connection.
The result is a more intuitive and welcoming first impression, and an environment that communicates dignity and support from the moment someone steps onto the campus.
Key Design Elements
- Two-story main lobby with hospitality-inspired arrival sequence
- All-private patient rooms with family accommodations and acoustic privacy
- Integrated emPATH unit for emergency behavioral health care
- Staff-centric circulation and bedside charting to reduce burnout
- Standardized room templates and modular department layouts
- Regional artwork and materials that reflect local identity
- Vertically organized care platform for ICU, OR, and med/surg units
- Rooftop helipad, garage, and bridges for campus-wide connectivity
A Vertical Hub for Integrated Care
With 12 floors of programming, the South Tower exemplifies modern campus densification. Vertically stacked ICUs, ORs, and med/surg units support efficient patient movement and resource sharing. A rooftop helipad, new parking structure, and inter-building pedestrian bridges strengthen the tower’s connectivity within the campus and reinforce its role as a high-performing regional care hub.
Designing with Empathy: Patients and Care Teams
Inside, the South Tower emphasizes privacy, autonomy, and emotional well-being through a full suite of all-private patient rooms. These rooms are intentionally designed to be larger, family-friendly, and acoustically buffered, supporting restful healing and active participation in care.
Equally important is the caregiver experience. Staff-focused planning includes off-stage corridors, bedside charting stations, and clear, process-driven layouts that reduce stress and streamline daily routines. These design strategies reflect a new model for post-pandemic care environments, where efficiency and empathy are combined.
Future-Ready and Flexible by Design
Designed to adapt to change, the South Tower features standardized room layouts, modular departments, and infrastructure that anticipates the evolution of care models and technology. Vertically stacked mechanical levels and critical care units maximize operational efficiency and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
From intensive care to surgery to med-surg floors, every layer of the tower supports current clinical needs while remaining flexible enough to accommodate future growth and innovation.
Meet the Design Team
