The new Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania brings together for the first time in one location Penn?s School of Arts and Sciences? departments of Political Science and of Economics. In addition, related academic programs will be located in the new building: the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI), Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics (Browne Center), Center for the Study of Contemporary China (CSCC), Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy, Penn Institute for Economic Research, and Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies.
Toronto’s KPMB Architects led the design team, bringing their expertise in creating institutional projects integrating heritage architecture set in sensitive urban and campus contexts with sustainable design. The Ronald O. Perelman Center is designed to meet Penn?s LEED Silver target. Located on the northeast corner of Walnut and 36th streets, the project involved the adaptive reuse and expansion of the circa 1925 Art Deco-style West Philadelphia Title and Trust Company building. The 110,000-square-foot project doubles the capacity of the original bank building. As the first major undergraduate academic development north of Walnut, the design is home to Penn?s newest academic centre for teaching and research.
The exterior of the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics is conceived as a composition of elevations that r...