Upper Darby’s long-closed Delaware County Memorial Hospital is on track to come down, with the school district eyeing the property for a new career and technical education center next to Upper Darby High School. District leaders say the site could double as temporary “swing space” during renovations at other schools while giving students hands-on training opportunities.
As reported by CBS News Philadelphia, district officials have described demolition and a new education campus as their preferred outcome for the dormant hospital complex, pointing to career-focused programming as the main driver behind the project.
How the district acquired the site
The district closed on the former hospital property in August 2025 for $600,000, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The hospital, which had long been part of the Crozer system, stopped inpatient services in late 2022, leaving a high-profile parcel near the high school that district officials say offered a strategic chance to expand.
Design options and community input
In January, the school board approved hiring Perkins Eastman to study what the campus could become, with options ranging from a STEAM-focused high school to an elementary school or a permanent career-training campus, Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry told Upper Darby Now. The district plans to send out community surveys and assemble a committee of teachers, students, and other stakeholders to help shape the project and weigh whether any parts of the existing structure can be reused.
Demolition and liquidation steps already under way
The district published a request for proposals on June 24 seeking firms to liquidate equipment and remove mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems as a prelude to tearing the building down. The RFP set a proposal deadline of last Thursday and gives approved vendors until Oct. 30 to remove the listed items. It also anticipates the district selecting a vendor on Aug. 11, 2026 and spells out insurance, clearance, and background-check requirements for bidders. The Upper Darby School District document lays out the full timeline and scope.
Permits and site issues to watch
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection records show the operating-permit file for the site has been updated to list the Upper Darby School District as the permittee, a formal move that shifts regulatory responsibility for the property. The DEP documents list boilers, underground fuel tanks, and emergency generators, items that demolition contractors typically must address during abatement and removal according to the permit files. Pennsylvania DEP maintains the permit records and site inventory.
What neighbors should expect next
District officials say they intend to move carefully, emphasizing community input and a desire to limit tax impacts. “We need to be cautious... because obviously, costs are what they are,” Superintendent McGarry said, in remarks reported by Upper Darby Now. If a demolition contractor is selected in August, the actual schedule for tearing down the old hospital and building any new training campus will depend on bids, permitting, and remediation, which means the full build-out could take years.
