Re-shaping a Commitment with Philadelphia's Community

Re-shaping a Commitment with Philadelphia's Community

Russo, Francesca

Asseo, Lorna

Robertson, Maren

O'Connor, Patricia

DiStasio, Nancy

Nyack, NY, USA

2014

005-LF-P010

Francesca Russo Architect

Professional

Expanding the library concept, Athenaeum-2050’s program includes a demonstration kitchen, workshops, video-editing labs, children’s area, digital displays, young adults’ area with gaming facilities, and a collection of technological devices available to members. Ample, well-conditioned server rooms are essential to ensure flawless performance of all equipment - from computers with downloadable files including books, media and architectural records - to 3D-printers and laser-cutters.

Three glass-and-steel faces on the building will provide natural light through vertical-aluminum louvers, while a solid wall on the south side provides a surface to install solar panels. Other environmentally-friendly technologies, including radiant floor heating, will be implemented.

With the Athenaeum’s original missions of architecture, pride-ornament, and knowledge dissemination as a starting point, we propose looking at a radial growth developed through a ramified program, in order to increase the footprint of the organization within the community.

By rotating a volume of the original building multiple times we start to give shape to the Athenaeum-2050. Each “movement” identifies a group of spaces within the 15-story building: knowledge dissemination (teaching), research/reading, architecture/design, management/headquarters, and community.

As we keep moving into an era of technology-induced individualism, the Athenaeum-2050 intends to offer a platform for people to reconnect, learn, and grow.

46109371