Architecture

A new initiative to preserve African American civil rights heritage sites

The Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites will be led by Faculty Director Randall Mason, an associate professor in the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, alongside renowned preservationist Brent Leggs, who is named senior adviser and adjunct associate professor.

From the Weitzman School of Design

A virtual tour of architectural masterpieces

David Brownlee, Frances Shapiro-Weitzenhoffer Professor of 19th Century European Art in the School of Arts and Sciences, leads a virtual tour of some of Penn’s best-known historic buildings.

From The Power of Penn

A friendship born through marginalization

At the turn of the 20th century, Julian Abele and Louis Magaziner—a Black man and an immigrant Jew—were standouts in Penn’s School of Fine Arts about to launch distinguished careers in architecture. They were also beginning what would be a lifelong friendship. A Magaziner descendant and Abele admirer investigates what brought them together.

Amy Cohen

Designs for what the future can be

The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s “Designs for Different Futures” exhibition includes contributions and installations from several Penn faculty and alumni who seek to answer questions about what the not-so-distant future may look like.



In the News


Dwell

Why do we keep developing in climate disaster zones?

Jessica Varner of the Weitzman School of Design says that the federal buyout timeline for homes destroyed by natural disasters opens the door to predatory buyers. William “Billy” Fleming of Weitzman says that adaptation requires various types of interventions that deal with the urgent effects of climate change.

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WHYY (Philadelphia)

Historic Longwood Gardens in Chester County readies for its next modern chapter

Marion Weiss of the Weitzman School of Design has helped spearhead the renovation of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

While America dithers over climate change, Swarthmore College shows how we can live without fossil fuels

William Braham of the Weitzman School of Design explains how Penn has cut its total energy consumption by 50% since 2009.

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NBC Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s Ben Franklin Parkway and how it was inspired by Paris’ Champs-Élysées

David Brownlee of the School of Arts & Sciences says the goal of the City Beautiful movement was to create a new American aesthetic, from industrial landscape to urban paradise.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

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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6ABC.com

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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