Main building would encompass nearly a million square feet
By: Molly Petrilla
PLAINSBORO Princeton HealthCare System representatives unveiled their tentative plans for a new hospital in Plainsboro before the township Planning Board and interested residents Monday night.
According to the preliminary site plan PHCS filed with the township, the proposed hospital facility would be built in two phases and eventually reach 960,000 square feet almost double the size of the current University Medical Center at Princeton located on Witherspoon Street.
PHCS representatives have said the institution plans to purchase the 158-acre FMC Corp. site in Plainsboro if the state and township approve plans for the hospital, which would serve as the centerpiece for the revamped area.
As proposed, the hospital would be situated on a 48.5-acre piece of land north of Plainsboro Road and south of Scudders Mill Road. The tallest portion of the building its "bed tower" would be eight stories.
In addition to the hospital, plans for the acreage include a 50,000-square-foot fitness center and 240,000 square feet of medical office buildings. Both would be erected during the first phase of construction, and the office buildings would be expanded during the second phase.
A 25-acre park is planned for south of Plainsboro Road, as well as a 180-bed long-term care facility and affordable senior housing development set on 14.5 acres.
Both the long-term facility and senior housing would be constructed during the first phase of development, and comprise 120,000 square feet and 760,000 square feet, respectively.
PHCS has enlisted West Windsor-based Hillier Architecture and international design firm HOK, which have estimated the hospital portion of the project will cost about $350 million.
"I think it’s a very ambitious plan," Mayor Peter Cantu said. "It’s an exciting project, but one that we have a lot of work to do on."
Before PHCS’s plans can be finalized, the township must approve changes to its zoning and Master Plan a task Mayor Cantu said will be delegated to a Master Plan subcommittee.
"We have a lot of things that have to be reviewed," he added. "It’s no secret that there are a number of things we have to take into consideration."
The mayor said township officials have had an ongoing dialogue with hospital representatives to voice their concerns about traffic, affordable housing and creating an economic balance on the site.
"We always look at it in relation to our plan for the community and how we see it fitting into our plan," Mayor Cantu said, adding that the hospital is now trying to address many of the township’s concerns for the site.
"It’s the beginning of a process," he added. "An exciting process and one that deserves a thorough review."

