Location: 4th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (within a block of Independence Hall)
Client: Walter Annenberg and the Center for Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
Background: The money to build a new library was donated by Walter Annenberg. The site had an existing 4 story townhouse and was located in an urban historic section of Philadelphia literally around the corner from Independence Hall.
The Solution: George Qualls, a partner at Geddes Brecher Qualls and Cunningham, started with a modernized version of a federal style townhouse with a gridded window interpretation of traditional windows on the Chestnut Street façade and directly adjacent to other historic homes. The side elevation faced a small park and offered us an opportunity to express a bolder form that departed from the regularity of the front. Our solution was a large glazed and sculptural “alcove” area lighting the main stairway. At the top we offered an opportunity to not only look at the park but to walk out on a special balcony.
