Penn plans to start work soon on hospital campus' New Patient Pavilion

The University of Pennsylvania Health System is preparing to begin work on its New Patient Pavilion, an oblong structure of glass and tan aluminum that will occupy the former site of the university's Penn Tower building.

The 15-story, 1.25 million-square-foot New Patient Pavilion at South 33rd Street and Convention Avenue will include 500 inpatient rooms, 47 operating rooms, and an emergency section, as well as a 665-space underground parking garage, according to the description.

Also planned are elevated walkways to link the new building with the nearby Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine.