CHOP Transforms Fitler Square with Glass Research Giant
By Rolando Rosa
In Fitler Square, a striking 17-story glass tower is reshaping the skyline as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) builds its Morgan Center for Research and Innovation.
The 350,000-square-foot facility, set to open in 2025, breaks from traditional research design by placing "wet" labs (where scientists conduct hands-on experiments) directly beside "dry" labs (where colleagues analyze data and develop computational tools).
This unconventional layout allows researchers to move fluidly between running experiments and analyzing results, potentially accelerating discoveries in children's health.
Construction began in October 2022, marking CHOP's continued expansion in the area.
Beyond Traditional Research Space
The building will include a public café with outdoor seating at South Street and Schuylkill Avenue.
A 250-person lecture hall, multi-purpose rooms, roof terrace, and interconnecting stair system are designed to foster collaboration among researchers.
International firm Cannon Design created the distinctive glass facade, which isn't just aesthetic – it's engineered to maximize natural light, boost energy performance, and prevent bird strikes.
Research hub takes shape
Located at 2716 South St., the Morgan Center sits strategically adjacent to the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, strengthening CHOP's research corridor.
The facility will house genome sequencing areas, innovation spaces, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
CHOP has acknowledged that construction may disrupt local commuter patterns across its Philadelphia Campus. However, the hospital views this as a necessary part of its expansion. "It was a natural fit to continue to expand our research offerings in that area," explained CHOP's PR staff.