The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Project Details

Project Description

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is an art school and museum comprising two historic buildings; the 1876 Landmark Building, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, and the adjacent 1920s-era Hamilton Building. The Landmark Building, designed by renowned Philadelphia architects Frank Furness and George Hewitt, is the first structure in the United States specifically designed for fine arts instruction and exhibition in a consolidated facility. One of the only remaining structures by Furness, the Landmark Building has been maintained and stabilized, but had not been altered from its original function or architectural condition. DLR Group’s master plan and subsequent renovation accommodates a growing program within a fixed site. “This comprehensive master plan assessed existing conditions of campus buildings and provided a comprehensive plan spanning several decades,” says Senior Principal Paul Westlake, Jr. FAIA, FACHA. “Our design solution reinforces the institution’s presence to the public, all while preserving PAFA's historic structures.” To create efficiencies, the master plan includes consolidation of administrative staff, reassignment of existing interior spaces based on projected utilization, and relocation of critical program components to accommodate future development. The plan also recommends space assignment in each building; relocation options for permanent collections and archives; a preservation and modernization plan for the Landmark Building; and several land acquisition options related to student housing development and supplemental parking facilities. Project implementation involved sequential construction phases to ensure continuous operation. Phase 1 included several interior renovation projects that created new spaces and features in the 280,000-SF Hamilton Building including a 250-seat auditorium, a Center for the Study of the American Artist, state-of-the-art Works on Paper Conservation Lab and archives, staff areas, exhibition spaces, a café, exterior street-level glazing, and interior studio spaces. Phase 2 entailed a full renovation of the 85,000-SF Landmark Building, including improvements to interior spaces, interior finish conservation, removal of non-historic interior construction, life safety and ADA compliance improvements, and renovation of infrastructure systems. DLR Group provided master planning, architecture, engineering, interior design, historic preservation, audiovisual, information transport, and lighting design services.