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Architecture
Finding a forgotten architect, Philadelphia’s Minerva Parker Nichols
More than a decade of research by Molly Lester of the Weitzman School of Design is the foundation of a new exhibition at Penn’s Architectural Archives: “Minerva Parker Nichols: The Search for a Forgotten Architect” focuses on the nation’s first woman to practice architecture independently.
Weitzman’s celebration of visionary architecture and planning returns to New York
Held at The Shed in New York City, and hosted by Weitzman Dean Fritz Steiner, Penn President Liz Magill joined the celebration with awards and prizes for innovative architecture and planning.
Clearing the air with biomaterials
Senseable Biomaterials for Healthier Habitats, a project led by assistant professor of architecture Laia Mogas-Soldevila, contributed a lattice installation made from architectural biomaterials to the ICA, acting as an antimicrobial air purifier.
A relief wall that’s a window onto architecture’s future
A public library relief wall is a novel approach to architectural design and robotic fabrication from the Weitzman School and the Robotics Lab.
Weitzman’s Daniela Fabricius on architecture, labor, and history
The architectural theorist and historian is teaching a class titled Architecture and Labor while working on two books, including “The Ethics of Calculation: Architecture and Rationalism in Postwar Germany.”
Celebrating future renovation and expansion of historic Stuart Weitzman Hall
At a ceremonial groundbreaking, Dean Fritz Steiner, Stuart Weitzman, President Liz Magill, and Matt Nord of the School’s board of advisors joined guests to celebrate the future renovation and expansion of the 130-year-old Weitzman School of Design building now named Stuart Weitzman Hall.
Can nature-inspired designs affect cognition and mood?
A team from the Center for Neuroaesthetics created a biophilic room to test the idea. Preliminary findings from a small pilot show promise, but also spur many questions about how to best use such a space.
Weitzman School of Design receives gift to establish fellowships and global internships for architecture students
A new gift from Aedas, a global architecture and design firm, will establish a fellowship for architecture students to work in Asia.
Q&A with Rashida Ng, Presidential Associate Professor of Architecture
In July, Ng will become chair of the undergraduate architecture program, an opportunity to teach students the responsibilities of architects to the environment and then the social conditions of the world.
Four Penn faculty awarded Guggenheim Fellowships
Four faculty have been named 2022 Guggenheim Fellows—Daniel Barber in architecture in the Weitzman School of Design and Kimberly Bowes in classical studies, Guthrie Ramsey in music, and Paul Saint-Amour in English in the School of Arts & Sciences.
In the News
Philadelphia’s Market Street East searches for growth and renewal — with or without a new Sixers arena
Akira Drake Rodriguez, Rashida Ng, and Dominic Vitiello of the Weitzman School of Design say there should be a more robust and inclusive conversation about the future of Philadelphia’s Market Street East.
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Chinatown residents brainstorm different ideas for Fashion District instead of proposed 76ers arena
Rashida Ng of the Weitzman School of Design and colleagues attended the Save Chinatown Coalition to propose different ideas besides the 76ers arena for Philadelphia’s Fashion District.
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Emergency stabilization work finally begins at the historic Henry Ossawa Tanner House
The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights at the Weitzman School of Design has partnered with the Friends of the Tanner House to stabilize the historic building in North Philadelphia.
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Dragonfly wings used to design lighter, stronger and ‘greener’ Boeing 777 wings
Masoud Akbarzadeh of the Weitzman School of Design and Weitzman alum Hao Zheng are studying dragonfly wings to redesign the wings of a Boeing 777.
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Penn moves forward with performing arts center designed by Steven Holl Architects
President Liz Magill comments on the new Student Performing Arts Center that will maximize visibility of creative life on campus.
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‘We deserve much better’: Critics oppose Philly’s plan for evaluating Sixers arena proposal
At a Philadelphia City Hall panel, Domenic Vitiello of the Weitzman School of Design decried the level of seriousness for impact studies requested by the city to evaluate the impact of a Sixers arena in Chinatown.
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