Oftentimes, we find ourselves musing over design masterpieces and various famous artworks, yet we neglect the impressive art and design that lies right in front of us. In honor of the impressive designs on Penn’s campus, I’ve identified three of Penn’s architectural wonders to spotlight in this blog.
First off, you might be surprised to learn that Fisher Fine Arts Library (1890), the silent study spot on campus that intimidates most, is actually a half fortress, half cathedral design created by the renowned Philadelphia architect, Frank Furness, and inspired by his time serving in WW2. The library’s plan was extremely innovative at the time as the tower’s staircase provided access to five stories that were separated from the reading rooms. However, Fisher is also an example of the limitations of design, as the layout made expansion nearly impossible.
Unknown to most, Skirchanich Hall and Courtyard also possesses an impressive architectural design. The building is very disorienting, as the green color connects to the ivy covered brick found throughout the campus. The building corners are also illuminated by sheets of etched glass. The design intentionally makes you feel like you’re in an MC Esher piece.
Finally, Levine Hall’s Curtain Wall makes note of the historical buildings surrounding it because the “zipper” design on the right side of the wall imitates the “zipper” pattern on the historical buildings that contrast the concrete from the brick. When designing this wall, the dean didn’t express a desire for a glass building, but he wanted people to understand what engineering was in the 21st century. This design is also environmentally-friendly through an innovative way of handling the exterior of a building.
Design impacts every element of our lives, even the buildings we work in. As we’ve learned in class, every design is intentional, and that notion of intentionality is seen in the buildings on our campus.
