As part of its economic development strategy, the Avenue of the Arts, Inc. and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation launched a plan in 1993 to expand its tourism and convention economy by consolidating its broad base of performing arts organizations. A focal point of this plan was an ‘Entertainment Loop’, integrating the city’s main historic, retail, entertainment and cultural sites into an identifiable route. The Loop included an Avenue of the Arts along the portion of South Broad Street featuring a new performing arts center. The city commissioned a consulting team to develop a programming, site analysis and master plan strategy for the center. This plan was the first building block that led to the development of Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, opened in 2001.

The plan proposed a new 160,000 s.f. facility which would occupy one and a half blocks of street frontage required a detailed analysis to determine its feasibility within the site constraints. Because of its location among prestigious neighbors such as the new Philadelphia Orchestra Hall, the Academy of Music, the University of the Arts and Pierce College, the planning carefully considered the Center’s appropriateness and its urban scale.

Among the components of the Center was a 800-seat recital hall, 600-seat proscenium stage drama theater, a 150 to 175-seat studio theater and multiple rehearsal halls. The public spaces were envisioned as a series of interconnected galleries to hold exhibits from the collections of the Center’s benefactors and serve as a cultural window to the city.

Scott C. Wilson, Principal-in-Charge and A. Scott Butler, Project Architect while with Rothman Partners, Inc.

Project Info
Cost: Study
Complete: 1995
Scope: Master Planning, Architecture
Client: Philadelphia’s Economic Development Corporation
Staff: Scott Wilson, AIA; Scott Butler, AIA

arts / entertainment

master planning

“We continue to be impressed with the quality of your work... especially your highly tactile, visual response to conveying your recommendations and insights to your clients.”
G. Craig Schelter, Executive VP. Philadelphia’s Economic Development Corp.