Project Profile
The Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building establishes a Center City campus for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, our nation’s oldest art museum and school of fine arts, at the intersection of the Avenue of the Arts and “museum mile.” The former brownfield site, Federal Building and automobile factory now boasts complete restoration of its 1915 façades with terra cotta detailing and ornate light fixtures, retention of the original cast iron doorway, and full interior redesign. The Hamilton Building, situated across Cherry Street from the Academy’s historic landmark building designed by Frank Furness and George Hewitt, brings the school and museum together for the first time in more than 40 years. The 300,000 square foot, 11-story Hamilton Building more than doubles the Academy’s gallery space for public exhibitions and allows the school to expand enrollment by one-third. In addition to several large exhibition galleries, spaces also include a Sculpture Study Center (the first resource of its kind in America), daylit painting/drawing classrooms that capture northern light, private art studios, a penthouse student lounge and a rooftop painting terrace with sculpture garden overlooking Philadelphia’s cityscape, and the Academy’s new shop Portfolio.
Upon final phases of completion, the building will also encompass an indoor/outdoor cafe, an underground gallery connecting the Hamilton Building with the Academy’s historic landmark building, and closing of Cherry Street to create a pedestrian plaza between the two campus buildings. Additional public spaces will include sculpture, printmaking and framing shops, administrative offices and library. The Hamilton Building is situated directly across Broad Street from the future entrance to an expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center, providing unique shopping, tourism and dining options for convention-goers. In addition, the new campus will strongly help to expand Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts north of City Hall, revitalizing an underdeveloped area of the city. A café and shop in the new building add economic benefits to the inherent tourism and cultural benefits of an expanded arts institution.
Recycling of an existing brownfield site allowed Dagit Saylor Architects and the Academy to utilize existing public services such as water, sewer and electric. Close proximity to public transit systems, cultural attractions, municipal buildings and housing allows easy access to nearly every city service.
Project Merits
Preservation: original exterior restored, and interior industrial character preserved Environmental Responsibility: existing utilities updated with the most energy-efficient equipment; addresses LEED principles; clean-up of brownfield site
Pivotal Location: joins three key cultural byways of Philadelphia—Avenue of the Arts, “museum mile” and Convention Center; creates pedestrian-friendly campus environment
Funding: building acquired from federal government; Capital Campaign launched with $15 million grant from the Commonwealth
Impact: building and resulting campus bring a major cultural, commercial and educational presence to an area identified as underdeveloped by city and public organizations
Renovation of the Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts has proven to be a catalyst for revitalization of the existing community surrounding North Broad Street, an area regarded as underdeveloped with few eateries, no retail outlets, and several unused and damaged buildings.
Implementation of a fine arts campus only two blocks from City Hall strengthens the city’s cultural districts by drawing tourists, shoppers, diners and students north of the municipal center. Since renovations began in 2002, several new revitalization projects have been planned, including renovation of Roman Catholic High School, preservation of several building facades, community clean-up events and renovation of an office building for the School District of Philadelphia. Expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center to Broad Street is also highly anticipated.
The building was deemed eligible for the National Register upon its sale to the Pennsylvania Academy, and its exterior is protected by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The Commission supports the project as reflecting sound preservation principles while adapting the building to 21st century use.
The former brownfield site is now safely restored and attractively interpreted. Renovations included complete abatement of the interior. Recycling of an historic structure at the core of Center City revitalizes the area while preserving the city’s cultural heritage—existing infrastructure utilized include roads, subway, regional trains, buses and Walk Philadelphia directives. In addition, the building’s landmark façade (including ornate high and low cornices, capitals, historic window replacements and cast iron doorway) is restored and utilities are updated with energy-saving equipment and HVAC unit. The planned closing of Cherry Street between the Academy’s two buildings will allow for a pedestrian plaza with landscaping and an indoor/outdoor eatery.
Incorporation with the Academy’s historic landmark building was also considered. The historic landmark building, at 118 North Broad Street, was designed by architects Frank Furness and George Hewitt. In keeping the Furness’ peculiarities of design, the Grand Staircase of the Hamilton Building was designed and positioned behind a column to reflect Furness’ Grand Staircase next door.
Raised skylights have been added to both major classrooms of the tenth floor, designed to capture and effectively distribute northern daylight. Interior design emphasis was also placed on maintaining the original building’s loft atmosphere, with original columns and capitals preserved. Private art studios on all school floors include open ceilings with exposed fixtures to assist in disseminating natural light, which enters through large, restored windows on three sides of the building. The Academy, a non-profit organization, conserved fiscal resources by working with local and state government bodies to acquire the building and launch renovations. Working with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the Academy purchased the building as part of the federal government’s deacquisition process.