Historic Building Becomes New Home for Aspiring Artists
Becker & Frondorf oversaw seven phases of design and construction that transformed a 1920s-era industrial building into a vibrant new arts education facility. We worked with the Academy to carefully plan renovations to the 12-story, 250,000-square-foot Hamilton Building, identifying an initial scope of work critical to move-in and prioritizing projects to be phased over a ten-year period as funds became available. The School’s diverse needs, from studio spaces and libraries to foundries that generate extreme heat, required strategic infrastructure planning and safety measures to protect students through each stage of renovation. All phases of the project were delivered on budget and on schedule.
In 2011, we managed the construction of the Olin Partnership-designed Lenfest Plaza, an open-air gathering and art exhibition space adjacent to the Hamilton Building. B&F navigated complex issues, including securing approvals to permanently close a portion of Cherry Street, coordination with SEPTA to construct the plaza over an active subway, and the protection of nearby telecommunications infrastructure. Our team also oversaw the successful installation of Pop Artist Claes Oldenburg’s monumental public sculpture, Paint Torch.