Hospitals Head for the Cornfields

The sprawling locations where new hospitals are built in Minnesota provides insight for nationwide trends, and share traits with the siting of new schools

1 minute read

January 24, 2018, 2:00 PM PST

By snewberg @JoeUrbanist


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A road sign directs traffic toward the hospital in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. | AlexiusHoratius / Wikimedia Commons

A recent streets.mn by Monte Castleman post looks at hospital development in Minnesota and finds a definitive trend towards edge city locations rather than population centers. Similarities with sprawling school sites have gotten more attention in recent years within the urban planning industry.

The post lays out possible reasons for hospitals being at the sprawling edge of town, including changing medical practices, patient expectations, the need for horizontal floor plates, available land and vehicular access. 

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in Streets.MN

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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