Perelman Auditorium at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fairmount Park PA, American Art Deco architecture images

Perelman Auditorium at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

post updated 20 March 2024

Architects: MGA Partners

Location: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Former Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company headquarters of the
Original design: Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary
Date built: 1927
Style: Art Deco architecture

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Photos © Halkin | Mason Photography

July 16, 2020

Perelman Auditorium

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is sited on the axis of Benjamin Franklin Parkway that connects the city center with Fairmount Park, the largest urban park in the world.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Many prominent institutions and notable buildings line the great diagonal boulevard to create a remarkable cultural corridor.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Located adjacent to the Museum is the Perelman Building, formerly the headquarters of the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, designed in 1927 by Zantzinger, Borie, and Medary, and considered today as the most significant example of Art Deco style architecture in the city.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

The new Perelman Auditorium restores the commanding views of the Parkway by opening up the (formerly blocked) flanking rows of historic windows. With transparency restored between the urban park setting and the gathering within, the space is repurposed to become a room that reconnects to the city.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

The design concept is to create a singular space as an insertion of contemporary elements within the richly detailed historic building.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Each element has a different functional purpose that is represented in color and volume. There is a terraced podium of seats that gathers the audience, a tech cube that composes the space, a proscenium frame that focuses the room, a textured scrim that adjusts the ceiling plane, and new acoustic wall panels that redefine the enclosure.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

In keeping with the rich details of metal and millwork found in lobbies and public spaces throughout, the auditorium relies upon artisan craft of the new elements.

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Perelman Auditorium, Philadelphia Museum of Art – Building Information

Architects: MGA Partners

Project size: 4,000 ft2
Site size: 4,000 ft2
Completion date: 2018
Building levels: 1

Lighting Design: The Lighting Practice
Systems Engineer: H. F. Lenz
AV & Acoustics: Metropolitan Acoustics

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Awards:
Bronze Award for Design Excellence
AIA Pennsylvania

Award for Design Excellence
AIA Philadelphia

Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art Perelman Auditorium at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Photos © Halkin | Mason Photography

Perelman Auditorium at the Philadelphia Museum of Art images / information received 160720

Construction started: 1919
Architecture firm: Zantzinger, Borie & Medary

Address: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130, United States of America.

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