The Future of Healthcare Design: 
The Penn Pavilion

As one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, the Pavilion brings together more than 500 private patient rooms, advanced surgical and clinical spaces, and thousands of caregivers in a welcoming environment designed around healing.

Materials played an important role in creating a restorative, home-like experience while meeting the rigorous cleanability and durability requirements of a modern medical center. Across the Pavilion, surface selections were carefully considered to elevate patient comfort, standardize care environments, and reduce operational complexity.

Wilsonart Solid Surface became a foundational material throughout the Pavilion, with more than 10,000 sheets incorporated into patient rooms, clinical spaces, staff areas, and workstations. Plus, furniture applications, custom headwalls, and more than 1,300 integrated sinks.

Its seamless, nonporous surface helps eliminate places where moisture and contaminants can accumulate, making routine cleaning and disinfection more effective in high-touch healthcare environments. Because the material is repairable and renewable, it also helps reduce maintenance downtime and long-term replacement costs — important operational considerations for facilities that never stop serving patients.

Throughout the Pavilion, Solid Surface designs reinforce a bright, calming environment that supports healing without sacrificing performance. Designer White creates crisp, highly functional workstation surfaces that maximize brightness in caregiver spaces, while Frosty White Mirage introduces subtle movement and warmth in sink areas. In patient bathrooms, Silver Smoke vanity countertops pair with Grey Beola shower walls to create a stone-inspired aesthetic that feels more residential and cohesive.

The complementary palette brings visual depth and sophistication while delivering the seamless cleanability, moisture resistance, and long-term durability essential for demanding healthcare environments. The result feels inspired by hospitality design, a welcoming and restorative approach that will stand the test of time.

To complement the Solid Surface applications, Wilsonart HPL in Natural Recon was used extensively for cabinetry, workstation footwall accents, and a dramatic feature wall at the main entrance. The warm reconstituted oak creates an inviting first impression while introducing moments of natural warmth throughout the hospital.

Together, Solid Surface and HPL create coordinated environments that perform across a wide range of clinical applications. Across nearly every space in the facility, the integrated materials support staff workflow, withstand intensive daily use, and provide patients and caregivers with a consistent experience.

The Pavilion also reflects how material selection contributes to broader sustainability goals. Durable, repairable surfaces support the project's LEED^® Gold certification by reducing replacement frequency and material waste over time. By selecting materials engineered for longevity and maintainability, the project team balanced environmental responsibility with operational performance.

Today, Penn Medicine's Pavilion is a beacon for the future of healthcare design. As healthcare systems continue to rethink the patient experience, the Pavilion offers a compelling model for the next generation of hospitals — where high-performing environments help elevate care for patients, families, and caregivers.