Last week, we looked into the history of Philly’s venerated Museum of Art.  Today, we consider another of the city’s Greek-influenced cultural landmarks.  The flagship building of The University of the Arts, Dorrance Hamilton Hall, stands between Pine and Spruce Streets on the west side of Broad.  The University’s Eugene Bolt tells that the building was conceived by architect John Haviland, most famous for previously designing the Eastern State Penitentiary.  Erected in 1824, it is the oldest building still standing on Broad Street.

UArts today

However, an image taken from G.M. Hopkins’ 1875 Philadelphia Atlas shows that the art school was originally an educational institution of a different kind.  For its first 70 years, Haviland’s building housed the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, alternately known as Philadelphia’s Deaf and Dumb Asylum.

Awful name

In addition to being one…

In July, 2006 hundreds of firefighters battled a blaze for hours at 1222 Locust St. By the time the fire was doused at the Lincoln Apartments Building, designed in 1892 by George H. Fettus, a contemporary of Frank Furness, five floors of apartments had collapsed like a V in the middle of the building to the ground floor. Since then, the handsome six-story building has existed in a state of disrepair.

But a shell of Philly history will be preserved when architects from Cecil Baker and Associates renovate the building in a project, slated to begin next spring. Plans designate the creation of 44 units, making for a total of 50 beds in the form of six studio apartments, 32 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroomers, according to David Fante, vice-chair of the Washington Square West (WSW) Civic Association Zoning Committee.…

As recently as a couple of years ago, Old City was brimming with sushi options, but some recent closings have whittled down the options some. At the corner of 3rd and Chestnut Sts. sits a gorgeous, old, and empty building, most recently occupied by Haru. The sushi spot shut it doors in May of this year, leaving behind a gem of a building.

A nice lookin' building

It wasn’t a total shock that Haru closed. The sushi was of decent enough at the Benihana franchise, but we suspect that the setting was as much of a draw for tourists and regulars. The soaring ceilings in the main dining room reveal old architectural details, and the walls are lined with 8-foot paned-glass windows that only add to the room. Two-person booths were raised up to the sills of these windows,…

The Provident Life & Trust Company was initially an L-shaped building designed by famed architect Frank Furness. The more famous side, 409 Chestnut St., was home to the bank entrance while the other wing at 42 S. 4th St. was used for the insurance company portion. The style of this building was not typical of its designer; it was truly an experiment in tension and energy which set it apart from both the adjacent Bankers Row buildings and other Victorian works by the architect.

Interior Shot. Both historical images from Wikipedia

The modernized Gothic Façade of the bank portion at 409 Chestnut Street, completed in 1879, pushes and tugs the eyes about its crag-like surface. It reveals an energized and powerful force harnessed within a singular enormous interior room, and all somehow contained within a decorated exterior. Furness’ initial structure won acclaim.…

Among the winding pathways of the tastefully pristine UPenn campus, it’s difficult to choose any one building as a standout among the many beautifully diverse structures. Architecturally, the campus is sort of a microcosm of Philadelphia, blending modern and classic design while somehow enabling the visitor to forget about their busy urban surroundings. And yet, one structure seems to stick out from the group, almost a ‘red’ headed stepchild to the other buildings that surround it. With red sandstone and terracotta complete with gargoyle heads, this “what the?” inducing structure is officially called the Anne & Jerome Fisher Fine Arts Library, but is commonly referred to as the Furness Library.

Designed by acclaimed architect Frank Heyling Furness (1839-1912), the Fisher Fine Arts Library may just be one of our favorite structures in Philadelphia. And that’s really saying something. Completed in 1890, its original purpose was to be the…