School of Engineering and Applied Science

Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) is recognized as an international center of engineering excellence and catalyst for technological innovation. To help SEAS attract and retain top talent – the likes of which are recruited by tech companies including Google and Apple – BKP designed a collaborative space for graduate and post-doctoral students and faculty to exchange ideas, build rapport, and inspire each other. The renovation of 3401 Walnut Street involved defining intriguing areas for offices and active learning within eight-foot floor-to-ceiling space. Through the use of bulkheads and recessed ceilings, BKP captured additional verticality. By establishing an east-west axis, and incorporating side lite glass around doorways, natural light extends into all areas, including hallways. Varying floor and ceiling finishes differentiate spaces. Over 1,000 sf of public glass marker board and writable glass in the interactive area make it a destination for collective writing and calculations.