PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is preparing for an extensive campus expansion.
The organization plans to unite its landmark building — housing the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library — with the former Swedenborgian Church and Parish House at 2129 Chestnut St., a neighboring property that the college bought in 2023.
The college said the purchase of the adjacent property extends its usable footprint by 24%.
More than $27 million has already been raised for the expansion. President and CEO Larry Kaiser said initial construction will begin in January 2026.
“Ultimately, we’ll be putting these two buildings together to really form a campus,” he said. “Some work over at 2129 [will] increase our educational space. We have a number of educational programs for students in the city.”
The plan also aims to improve the visitor experience by expanding gallery space in the museum and library.
“We have way more objects than are currently on display, and it will give us an opportunity to change out some of the permanent displays and bring in more exhibitions,” Kaiser said.
Other additions include a second medicinal garden, fully accessible entrances, classrooms for school groups and programming, and multi-purpose spaces.
Construction will be phased in over time so as not to disrupt museum visitors.