University of Pennsylvania Campus Development Plan

In the 1990s, the University of Pennsylvania was undergoing a period of unprecedented growth and expansion. The urban campus had become poorly integrated within the City of Philadelphia; existing buildings were suffering from deferred maintenance; and the physical condition of the campus did not appropriately reflect the quality of the university’s programs and resources. These factors, among others, led to a desire to revitalize the institution through a comprehensive academic, neighborhood and campus planning effort. Working with the University, OLIN helped form five working committees of staff, faculty, administrators and students to identify issues and develop planning strategies and policy recommendations. Each committee addressed a particular area: academic and scholarly purpose; campus life; traffic, transit and parking; maintenance and operations; and historic heritage. The design team and committees engaged in an iterative process to help ensure that the physical infrastructure detailed within the campus development plan would support the university’s academic mission. Along with producing alternative real estate development scenarios for critical properties, a key aspect of the plan was to make the campus more attractive and comfortable for pedestrians.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Owner
University of Pennsylvania

Status
Plan completed 2001

Key Team Members
Laurie Olin, Partner
Susan Weiler, Partner
Richard Newton, Associate