The client: Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor is an international congregation of Roman Catholic women founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan, whose mission is to serve the lowest-income seniors in the communities where they are located. The sisters living at the Holy Family Home in Philadelphia, Penn., were looking to develop a new plan for their current campus, which was constructed in 1973.
Repositioning planning services
Plante Moran Living Forward (PMLF) was engaged to lead the sisters through a strategic planning and predevelopment process to create a business master plan that would reposition the campus from a traditional long-term care model to one that emphasizes independent living and aging in place. This plan offered the best opportunity to meet the needs of both the sisters and the community they serve.
Owner’s representation services
As the owner’s representative, PMLF supported the sisters throughout the planning and design phases and continues to oversee the project and project team through three phases to completion by monitoring the schedule, budget, scope, and risks.
Phase 1
Phase 1 broke ground in spring 2022 and included construction of a 15-unit convent and an 18-unit healthcare household with private rooms and bathrooms. Construction concluded in 2023.
Phase 2
In Phase 2, the team explored multiple conceptual designs to determine the best value for the sisters. The final plan retained much of the existing building while demolishing other areas, reducing the overall footprint from over 150,000 square feet to 112,000 square feet. This phase included 37 independent living apartments, community activity spaces, administrative offices, a dining room, chapel renovations, a commercial kitchen, and a new entry and elevator lobby. Construction was completed in 2024.
Phase 3
Phase 3 focused on completing renovations to improve staff operational efficiency. Improvements included a new staff break room, staff parking, final site work, and a vehicle garage. The remaining three- and four-story buildings were demolished, and the project was completed in 2025.
A mission-aligned outcome
The transformed campus maintains a small healthcare unit consistent with the small house model and reflects a renewed focus on promoting socialization, wellness, spiritual life, and connection to the outdoors. The redesigned campus reduces the overall footprint to 96,500 square feet while creating a more intimate, resident-centered environment aligned with the sisters’ mission.
