Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia purchased the former Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office building for $17.5 million. The 69,000-square-foot property sits on a 2.3-acre site at 501 S. University Avenue. Importantly, the site sits about half a mile from CHOP’s main hospital at 3401 Civic Center Boulevard.

CHOP plans to demolish the existing building. However, the health system has not finalized development plans for the site. According to CHOP, the acquisition supports long-term campus expansion and enterprise growth.

Philadelphia-based Perryman Construction will complete the demolition. CHOP purchased the property from the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development. Previously, the Medical Examiner’s Office occupied the building. In 2022, the office relocated to the former Philadelphia Inquirer building at 400 N. Broad Street.

Meanwhile, CHOP continues expanding its regional real estate footprint. Over the past two years, the health system spent more than $66 million on property acquisitions.

For example, CHOP paid $24.75 million for a 3.2-acre site at 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue. The organization proposed building a 1,005-space parking garage there.

Additionally, CHOP purchased a 42-acre property in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. The site will become a pediatric health center.

Earlier, CHOP acquired a 97,290-square-foot office building in King of Prussia for $24.5 million. The building sits at 460 N. Gulph Road near CHOP’s specialty care center. Plans for the property have not yet been announced.