The buildings I photograph can range from a few weeks to many decades old. This campus upgrade featured a bit of both!
Renovations don’t have to be about tearing everything down and starting from scratch. Sometimes, remodeling and expanding from original structures can create really interesting connections from past to present and beyond.
The GSE renovation links past and present, connecting older buildings with a contemporary-style walkway and lobby.
The new façade visually anchors the GSE at the corner of 37th and Walnut.
The Graduate School of Education (GSE) at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) renovated its facilities by integrating expanded spaces with the original 1960s-era buildings. The renovation/addition connected existing structures, reconfigured interior spaces, and upgraded the façade with a more welcoming, outward-facing look.
During the day, the all-glass façade brings in lots of natural light as students enter or exit.
At twilight, the roles are reversed, as the lobby glows from within.
The new connection is both physical and metaphorical for the GSE’s mini-campus. It joins the original buildings and consolidates the school’s programs into one physical space to promote student collaboration. The welcoming façade and multi-use study/lounge spaces encourage interaction between students and with the larger surrounding community.
Small conference rooms and study spaces provide quiet, dedicated settings for collaborative work.
The spaces are equipped to give a presentation, jot down ideas, or simply hold a discussion.
You can also see our photos on Penn’s blog here!
Connecting past and present, literally: The new rear courtyard and connecting walkway bring a contemporary look to the older buildings on either side.