The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, one of the nation's oldest professional medical organizations, announced plans on Nov. 17, 2025, for a campus expansion as part of the most ambitious chapter in the institution's history.
Through what it calls the "Ever-Evolving Campaign," the college has reached $27 million in its first phase of fundraising to support plans to create a cohesive campus. The organization plans to unite its longtime home — the landmark building housing the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library, with the adjacent former Swedenborgian Church and Parish House at 2129 Chestnut St., which the college purchased in 2023.
The expansion project will celebrate the college's enduring legacy while honoring its incredible future by constructing dynamic and inviting new spaces to expand access and engagement for College Fellowship, the Mütter Museum and Library, STEM education programs and public programming, according to the Philadelphia medical institution, first founded in 1787.
Since then, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has served as an educational and cultural resource where science, medicine, public health, medical history and the humanities converge.
Over the past several decades, especially as the museum's profile has grown, there has been a pressing need to adapt and grow the organization's footprint to better serve its communities. With the purchase of the historic property at 2129 Chestnut, the college's campus facilities grew its usable footprint by 24 percent, providing an opportunity to deepen its role as an educational and engaging convening space.
"The College of Physicians of Philadelphia has a long history of serving as a pillar of medical advancement, civic responsibility and public health," Larry R. Kaiser, president and CEO of the college said in a news release. "But we are not content to rest on our past; we see a need to move forward with plans for innovation, inclusion and renewed purpose. The ‘Ever-Evolving Campaign' will unify our campus, creating engaging, accessible spaces — including significantly expanding the Mütter Museum's galleries — and providing more programming that will inspire future generations of healthcare leaders and strengthen our position as a trusted voice in medicine and public health."
Turning Ambitious Concept Into Reality
Construction is set to begin early in 2026 at the Chestnut Street site with a phased approach to limit disruptions to visitors.
The project's highlights include:
• For the first time, the campus will feature a cohesive, fully accessible entrance to both of its buildings at 19 South 22nd St. and 2129 Chestnut. A glass connector will provide a pathway between the two, representing the journey from the history of medicine to its present and future.
• An expansion of the Mütter Museum's reach and impact that will enhance the visitor experience through a significant addition of core gallery space, improved casework and more rotating exhibitions. Currently, only a small percentage of the museum's vast collection is on display. Once the work is complete, though, the museum and library's collection of nearly 500,000 objects, consisting of medical instruments, biological specimens, teaching models, texts and other archival materials will be shared with the public. In addition, the increased space will engage more visitors and school groups. The new and more expansive Museum Store will be relocated closer to the new entrance and will better reflect the college's rich historical collections.
• Plans to broaden the venerable Philadelphia facility's educational programs to reach more students and teachers than ever before. The organization will create modern classrooms for the college's Center for Education, highlighting its commitment to enhancing offerings for school groups and increasing capacity for hosting STEM education programming. This development will allow the campus to double the number of students it serves.
• The introduction of new or newly renovated, multi-purpose spaces for the College Fellowship and the public. In addition, flexible spaces will be offered for everything from medical conferences to signature events and small breakout spaces. The college has already launched this process by creating a Fellowship Hub at the Chestnut Street property — a dedicated event space for the College Fellowship, a lounge, a business center and other amenities.
To carry out its vision, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has partnered with MGA Partners, a nationally recognized design firm, and Becker & Frondorf, a project management services company — both of which are located in Philadelphia — to translate its ambitious concept into a thoughtful, innovative plan for the campus.
"We are thrilled about the opportunities the campus expansion provides to the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library," said Erin McLeary, senior director of the College's collections and research, and Sara Ray, senior director of interpretation, in a joint statement. "This is a unique place where our visitors get the chance to see objects that spark curiosity, promote creativity and encourage engagement with medical history. Through this expansion, we will preserve our extraordinary collection while highlighting more materials than ever before.
"We look forward to introducing more new exhibitions, sharing new stories and providing new opportunities for visitors to explore their humanity and medical history."
With a founding mandate to "lessen human misery," the College of Physicians of Philadelphia has worked to improve the lives of individuals, communities and society overall by challenging our understanding of health and well-being for close to 250 years.
Through the Mütter Museum, Historical Medical Library and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden, the college serves the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond, sharing stories of medicine and public health through robust collections of rare books, archives, historical objects and biological specimens. Explore the complex histories of medicine, engage in dialogue about well-being and expand your understanding of the human body with us.
