image of trees

Healthy Living

Reflecting Our Community's Health Needs​



Our proposed concept establishes a health-conscious environment that helps close the gap in disparities of care with expanded community programming.

By creating a space that fosters healthy lifestyles, we can reduce the risk of some of the most preventable chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and bone fractures, hypertension, respiratory disease, and stroke.

Main Line Health and its partners are designing our campus plans centering on healthy living and sustainability. We are guided by principles that will be expressed in various facets of the project:

Circle graph titled "Our Guiding Principles". Provide innovative and exceptional care. Respect the iconic architecture and viewsheds. Aging in place. Promote Active living. Improve Connectivity. Strengthen Sustainability.

Health Care Spaces

New health care spaces on the St. Charles campus will allow us to better accommodate patient-centric care — seamless, coordinated personalized health and wellness services. We envision patients having the ability to utilize multiple services in one day, all in one place. Co-location will particularly benefit the elderly and those with disabilities. 

The services and amenities offered will reflect the Lower Merion community's current and future health care needs. Today, the local population has above-average rates of the following compared to the national average*:

  • Physical inactivity

  • Hypertension

  • Heart Failure

  • Stroke

The delivery of health care is moving out of the hospital setting, closer to home. Main Line Health plans to offer new outpatient facilities on the site, all in close proximity to Lankenau Medical Center across the street, which has served the community for more than 100 years. These spaces would house a mix of services, many of which benefit older adults, all of which would be located together, making access more seamless. Potential services might include:

  • Advanced Cancer Care

  • Rehabilitation and Memory Care services

  • Musculoskeletal Services

  • Surgery and Procedure Center

  • Testing and Imaging operations

*Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Claritas, Decision Resources Group, IQVIA, Truven Health Analytics, Siemens Healthineers

Female physician speaking to patient

The proposed concept plan for the St. Charles property is also slated to include:

  • The adaptive reuse of the historic buildings that have defined the St. Charles campus to ensure their preservation for generations to come via a mix of independent, assisted living, and memory care units, to provide Lower Merion’s growing 65+ population with an option to age in place.

  • 4.5 miles of walk/bike trails, for daily runs, the occasional stroll, family bike rides, and more.

  • Pedestrian connectivity is at the forefront of the design plans, including a pedestrian bridge to Lankenau Medical Center and bicycle parking, to minimize traffic.

  • Ample green space will preserve the natural beauty of the campus. The majority of existing green space (approximately 70%) is slated to remain undeveloped.

  • Boutique hotel which can serve those visiting their loved ones living on campus, patients coming for procedures at Lankenau Medical Center or visiting physicians and family visiting Lankenau from out of town.

Renderings below bring this exciting transformation to life.