WellSpan York Hospital, York College partnering on expansion greenspace

Listen to this article

WellSpan York Hospital is partnering with York College on the design of a hospital expansion greenspace.

York College students and faculty will help design rooftop garden and other landscaping. According to a release, the horticulture design work through the program will begin in the Spring 2026 semester.

“Building a sustainable WellSpan York Hospital means reviewing every element of the project through a lens that ensures we make the smallest impact possible on our environment,” Victoria Diamond, senior vice president of WellSpan Health’s Central Region, said in a statement. “The educational expertise available right here in York through our partners at York College provide us an amazing opportunity to engage the next generation in a project designed to serve the next generation’s healthcare needs.”

The expansion will introduce a new eight-story surgical and critical care tower that will enhance the hospital as a center for advanced specialty care. It will consist of more than 248,000 square feet of new space and 32,000 square feet of renovated space. When completed, the hospital will have over 600 beds, making it one of the largest hospitals in Pennsylvania.

Made possible by a donation from the Powder Mill Foundation, the garden will engage students in a sustainable approach to landscape design that incorporates indigenous plant life as well as plant propagation in York College’s greenhouse, per the release.

“Louis Appell spent more than 30 years creating the beautiful gardens, Millbourne, at his estate on Powder Mill Road just a mile from WellSpan York Hospital, and he was also committed to creating a program in horticulture at York College,” said Michael Hady, president and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation. “I believe Louis would be very excited with this unique partnership and the foundation is pleased to provide financial resources to help achieve the vision.”

Students and faculty from the Environmental Horticulture program at the Appell Horticulture CenterWell at York College will participate in the design in the classroom and on site. Included are internships, service projects, working with the landscape architect, recommendations for native plants, and interpretive signage explaining the plant life to be placed as part of the layout, in addition to other projects across the system.

“Together with the Environmental Horticulture faculty, we look forward to a partnership with WellSpan where our students and faculty can engage with hospital staff in developing green spaces and indoor vegetable production facilities,” said Dr. Charles MacVean, dean of the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology at York College.

More than 12,000 square feet of green roof will be accessible in the garden setting, which will absorb rainwater to reduce the environmental impact of stormwater runoff, and act as a natural insulator that reduces energy consumption for cooling and heating. Per the release, the expansion project is working toward achieving LEED certification as a green building by U.S. Green Building Council.

The expanded setting will employ a sustainability design that benefits the environment and enhances the comfort and well-being of patients, families, visitors, and team members. It will also feature ventilation systems that promote air quality and healthier patient outcomes. To meet sustainability goals, the building will not use any environmentally harmful chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants.