University of Pennsylvania
department of management & technology

The exterior architecture speaks to the multifaceted nature of the dual degree program itself—a reflection of the interdisciplinary relationship of business and technology, historic infrastructure, and modern transparency.

University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Management and Technology’s director, Gad Allon, set a complex goal for the look and feel of the building—at once a flexible, incubator appropriate to the high-tech nature of studies and a place with the visual clarity of a formal workplace. Given the long, narrow site, careful internal planning prioritized access to natural light. Each space works with the next to ensure a variety of opportunities for informal study and congregation. 

The surgical design retained the 1920s Academic Gothic façade, its floor structure, and fireplaces. The main entry is a modern sliver slipped into the narrow space between the adjoining historic Landmark buildings. The view through the entire building to the garden courtyard beyond is the primary gesture of the design. On the north side, the new building massing and façade recognize its role as a mediator between the two-flanking red-brick buildings. The design embraced sustainable principles, earning LEED Gold Certification.