Exterior work is wrapping up on New College House West, a 12-story dormitory for the University of Pennsylvania in University City, West Philadelphia. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the 250,000-square-foot building will yield 450 dorm rooms. The project is estimated to cost $169.5 million to construct.
Current view of the tower. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
The main tower portion of the structure stands 12 floors tall. Light gray cladding is used throughout the façade of this section of the building, framing large blue-tinted windows. These windows are located in large columns that jut out from the structure. In these sections, the windows take up almost the entire space, only separated by small sections of gray cladding every two floors.
The modern tower is highly prominent on its perch above Walnut Street. Much of this height comes from an oversized first floor, serving as a pedestal for the residential tower. Here, large brick columns hold up the structure, also providing a more welcoming street atmosphere.
The tower provides an interesting contrast to the stately library next door. This historic building boasts a tan brick façade with ornate detailing framing its large protruding bay window.
Current view of the tower. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
The tower portion of the building only has frontage on Walnut Street. As for the rest of the superstructure, two large wings sprout from the building parallel to one another on opposite sides of the property. One runs along 40th Street, with the other on the farthest eastern portion of the property. Both reach all the way to Locust Walk, the main pedestrian thoroughfare through the campus lined with old trees and elegant brick architecture. To match these aesthetics, the structure utilizes red shingles that fully enclose all areas not covered by windows on the second through fifth floors. The ground floor features more brick columns adjacent to floor-to-ceiling windows.
View of the red shingling from Locust Walk. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
Current view of the tower. Credit: Colin LeStourgeon.
Given the progress made on the tower, it is easy to assume that the building should be ready for students in the 2021-22 school year, as planned.
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According to UPENN, interior work scheduled to be completed by April 2021 with fittings in the form of furnishing to be installed before students move in August 2021.