Weitzman School of Design
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Weitzman School of Design’s Historic Morgan Building - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
The University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design is undergoing a transformative renovation and expansion of the historic 1892 Morgan Building, now renamed Stuart Weitzman Hall. In collaboration with lead architect, KieranTimberlake, Spacesmith is responsible for the furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), ensuring every space supports art and design education and research. The project nearly doubles the building’s size to approximately 38,000 square feet. Key features include double-height fine art and architecture studios, large classrooms, galleries, a glass-walled exhibition space, a sculpture lab, and faculty offices. The interiors are defined by a neutral palette, serving as a blank canvas for creative expression. For the architecture studios, Spacesmith custom-designed modular student desks, display tables, and storage units. The desks are highly flexible and height-adjustable, constructed from steel with maple butcher block surfaces. Their design allows the back panel and monitor mounts to be easily removed, transforming the desk into a table. These desks are an evolution of Penn’s standards, reflecting the school’s commitment to providing a professional-quality learning environment. All specified materials meet or exceed low embodied carbon and health standards, avoiding chemicals of concern and laminates. Every material, including table edging—specified as rubber rather than vinyl—is Red List Free. To support cost-effective decision-making, Spacesmith designed three options for every furniture item in the building. This approach enabled Penn to compare pricing and select options offering the best value. These value-centric designs prioritize functionality, durability, and minimalist aesthetics, resulting in a monochromatic backdrop that complements rather than competes with student work. By eliminating unnecessary elements and securing sustainable, cost-efficient materials, Spacesmith achieved a balance of refinement, affordability, and elegance—creating spaces worthy of a student’s imagination.
