Why does Penn need more space?
Universities expand as new buildings are needed to meet the demands in teaching and research space, residential halls, and new space to accommodate athletic and cultural amenities. The acquisition of the postal lands by Penn provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure 24 acres of land that affords Penn the real estate to grow slowly and steadily towards Center City, without having an adverse affect on the residents and businesses of West Philadelphia. In 1872 Penns leaders moved the University from 9th and Chestnut Street, where it occupied two buildings, to west of the Schuylkill River on eight acres of land it purchased from the City. Since then, Penns campus has been evolving and growing to accommodate Penns role as a major urban research university. Penn currently sits on 290 contiguous acres; home to 14 million square feet of buildings, has an enrollment of 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and is the largest private employer in Philadelphia, second in the Stat
