WellSpan York Hospital is tapping the talent of York College students and faculty to help design a rooftop greenspace at the hospital that will create a healing environment for patients and loved ones, all part of a continued effort to involve local partners in the hospital expansion project. The garden, made possible by a generous donation from the Powder Mill Foundation, will engage students in a sustainable approach to landscape design that incorporates indigenous plant life as well as plant propagation in York College’s greenhouse. 

“Building a sustainable WellSpan York Hospital means reviewing every element of the project through a lens that ensures we make the smallest impact possible on our environment,” said Victoria Diamond, senior vice president of WellSpan Health’s Central Region. “The educational expertise available right here in York through our partners at York College provide us an amazing opportunity to engage the next generation in a project designed to serve the next generation’s healthcare needs.”

Students and faculty from the Environmental Horticulture program at the Appell Horticulture Center at York College, part of the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology, will participate in the design both in the classroom and on site as the hospital expansion project continues. This includes internships, service projects, working with the landscape architect, recommendations for native plants, and compilation of interpretive signage explaining the plant life to be placed as part of the final layout, in addition to other projects across the system.

“Together with the Environmental Horticulture faculty, we look forward to a partnership with WellSpan where our students and faculty can engage with hospital staff in developing green spaces and indoor vegetable production facilities,” said Dr. Charles MacVean, dean of the Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology at York College.

“Louis Appell spent more than 30 years creating the beautiful gardens, Millbourne, at his estate on Powder Mill Road just a mile from WellSpan York Hospital, and he was also committed to creating a program in horticulture at York College. I believe Louis would be very excited with this unique partnership and the foundation is pleased to provide financial resources to help achieve the vision,” said Michael Hady, president and CEO of the Powder Mill Foundation.

More than 12,000 square feet of green roof will be accessible in the garden setting. It will absorb rainwater, reducing the environmental impact of stormwater runoff, and act as a natural insulator that reduces energy consumption for cooling and heating. The expansion project is working toward achieving LEED certification as a green building by U.S. Green Building Council. When complete, the expanded footprint will employ high-performance sustainability design that is good for the environment and will enhance the comfort and well-being of patients, families, visitors and team members. It will also feature enhanced ventilation systems that promote the best possible air quality and healthier patient outcomes. To meet sustainability goals, the building will not use any environmentally harmful chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants.

In terms of clinical care, the expansion will introduce a new eight-story surgical and critical care tower that will significantly enhance the hospital as a center of excellence for advanced specialty care. Overall, it will consist of more than 248,000 square feet of new space and 32,000 square feet of renovated space. When completed, the hospital will top 600 beds, making it one of the largest hospitals in Pennsylvania.

Horticulture design work through the program will begin in the Spring 2026 semester. The two organizations are also investigating additional collaboration opportunities with other greenspaces and greenhouse vegetable production in development on WellSpan properties.