The Architect’s Newspaper is bringing Facades+ back to Philadelphia on September 19. AN partnered with Scott Erdy, principal of Erdy McHenry Architecture, as the conference co-chair. The event will showcase new and exciting projects in Pennsylvania. It will host conversations on pleated glass, mass timber, and adaptive reuse strategies for historic facades.
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Amy Gutmann Hall at the University of Pennsylvania
The day will begin with a presentation on the University of Pennsylvania’s brand-new Amy Gutmann Hall of Engineering. Jill Burgess, technical director and associate principal at RWDI; Andrew Kudless, founder at Matsys; Becker Raab, associate at KSS Architects; and Allison Peitz, project director at Lake|Flato Architects, will share details on the design and implementation of the building’s mass timber structure—the first in Philadelphia. On the exterior, the building is glazed and shaded via vertical fins as well as a patterned frit that references the computer-oriented research taking place inside.
Pleated Facades and a New Quality of Care: Jefferson Health Speciality Care
The next session of the day highlights Jefferson Health’s Specialty Care Pavilion, designed by Ennead Architects. Jarrett Pelletier and Kate Kulpa from Ennead will be joined by Charles Norman of National Real Estate Development and Matthew Naugle of New Hudson Facades to present the design and construction of the building, which is defined by its curved glass facade. Through its rippling form the building’s curtain wall alludes to pleated fabric—a nod to Philadelphia’s history of textile manufacturing.
Palmer Museum of Art – Weaving together Art, Landscape, and Light
Pennsylvania State University commissioned Allied Works to design a new home for the Palmer Museum of Art. Clad in locally sourced sandstone panels, the new facility divides the museum’s large collection across several staggered volumes that take advantage of its hilly site. Nathan Hamilton, associate principal at Allied Works, will share how the building balances opacity and transparency, highlighting its use of custom metal shade screens.
2300 Market: Adaptive Reuse Strategy for Historic Facades
Jon McCandlish, principal; and Ryan Wall, associate at KieranTimberlake, will present 2300 Market, an adaptive reuse project in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City. To create a 225,000-square-foot life sciences research facility, the firm bridged two historic structures from above with a large glass volume. The project also entailed the rehabilitation of the existing buildings—a large brick warehouse and terra-cotta clad structure.
Rowan University’s Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine: Redefining the role of Master Builder
Erdy McHenry Architecture, the event’s co-chair firm, will showcase Rowan University’s new Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine—New Jersey’s first veterinary school. Katy Brown and Eliah Cappi from Erdy McHenry will be joined by Andrew Boesch of Eastern Exterior and Andrew Oakley from Rowan University to discuss how the use of a collaborative design-assist and prefabrication of a high performance facade system led to the realization of the 150,000-square-foot building.
Betting on our Neighborhoods: Facades as a Tool for Urban Placemaking
The day’s program will conclude with a lively roundtable conversation between Brian Phillips of Interface Studio Architects, Jeremy Avilenio of Bright Common, and Inga Saffron of The Philadelphia Enquirer, discussing the role of facade design in Philadelphia’s ongoing urban transformation. The panelists will consider the practical factors which shape contemporary architecture, including cost constraint and environmental responsibilities, weighed against aesthetic concerns related to proportion, context, and materiality.
