Project Profile

Philadelphia, PA

Project Details

New Construction: Yes

Date Built: July 2000

Building Type: Chilled water plant

City: Philadelphia

State: PA

Country: USA

Project Team

Architect: Leers Weinzapfel Associates

Description

The competition-winning design for the new structure creates an attractive gateway presence, while retaining maximum use of the site for a new varsity baseball field.

Client Objectives

The University of Pennsylvania required a new chilled water plant to serve the campus at a highly visible location along the Schuykill River on a site previously used for recreational athletic fields.

The University's goals were to create a campus gateway, to expand urgently needed chilled water infrastructure capacity for the campus, and to maximize the site use for athletics. Further, the University anticipated doubling the plant capacity in the near future as required by Campus growth.

Site

The site is a virtual island at the edge of the campus, defined by a bend in the river, major roadways, and a railroad right-of-way; the regular street grid is absent. Grassy berms protect its edges and give it a sense of positive enclosure.

Design Response

The design concept encompasses both the building and site. A continuous perforated stainless steel screen wall in a fluid elliptical form wraps the chiller plant. The shape echoes the curves of the river and roads, and the material resonates with nearby industrial structures along the river. The ellipse, with no distinct faces, nestles in a field of green within the grassy berms, and is a graceful enclosure for this very large structure. Because all vehicle service areas for the plant are contained within the elliptical enclosure, the site is free for the full development of athletic activities. A baseball field takes advantage of the berm for seating with optimal playing orientation and a dramatic view to the city. The dimension of the enclosure creates a 1/4 mile running track. A line of trees along the back of the site protects and defines the greenspace.

As the screen wall completes the perimeter enclosure, the chiller plant within can expand in phases without disturbing the surrounding landscape and athletics or the gateway presence of the plant. Furthermore, the screen wall around the chiller plant celebrates the industrial nature of the structure while giving it a distinct identity. The corrugated perforated stainless steel screen is a shimmering, silvery object by day, revealing the rooftop chillers above. By night, the building becomes a translucent glowing object, partially revealing the equipment within.

(Photographer: Peter Aaron/Esto)