Connecting Past and Future

The expansive new lobby provides both a quick connection between classes and a comfortable seating area for those with a few minutes to hang out.

January often brings change and new beginnings, but it’s not always necessary to throw everything out and start over. The Graduate School of Education (GSE) at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) recently renovated its facilities by integrating expanded spaces with the original 1960s-era buildings. Rather than tearing everything down and building from scratch, the combined renovation/addition at GSE connected existing structures, reconfigured interior spaces, and upgraded the façade with a more welcoming, outward-facing look.

Connecting past and present, literally: The new rear courtyard and connecting walkway bring a contemporary look to the older buildings on either side.

The renovation had two primary inspirations: consolidating GSE’s programs into one connected physical space to promote student collaboration, and providing an “outward-facing perspective” to encourage interaction with the larger surrounding community.

The all-glass façade provides lots of natural light as students enter or exit.

To better show how the renovation would foster such connections, I photographed the spaces “in use.”

“Adding students and passersby brought movement and energy to the final images, and I enjoyed getting to direct a “cast” on site.”

Terra-cotta fins add color and visual flair to the new building.

Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside inside to these study spaces.

You can also see our photos on Penn’s blog here!

At twilight, the new interior glows, a visual beacon on Walnut Street.