Class of 1920 Commons Dining Renovation and Expansion Feasibility Study

The University of Pennsylvania requested BKP’s help exploring long-term freshman dining options in the Class of 1920 Commons. BKP previously designed a food court, gourmet grocer, and Amazon outlet for the building. The renovation and expansion feasibility study addressed development of a new all-you-care-to-eat dining facility, better connectivity to Locust Walk, vertical circulation among the building’s three floors, and envelope improvements. Built in 1971 with a curved metal façade added in 1988, the building features a cast-in-place concrete structure with nine skylights. BKP’s two solutions celebrate the midcentury architecture and enliven some of its tour-de-force elements. The first option offers a minimally invasive scheme that retains the façade. The second option presents a dynamic saw-tooth façade. Both concepts use natural materials, live plants, light, and color for a modern aesthetic that both draws attention to, and softens, the original structure.