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The physical libra­ry has become a rarity in a world where vast online repositories of information can be readily accessed by anyone - at any time of day, anywhere in the world.  While its collection remains unrivaled, the Athenaeum recognizes that Architecture is fundamentally an art of the physical, experiential world.  To remain the leading resource on architecture in the city, the institution must be more than the custodian of records and documents for individual research.  It must also strive to reach out beyond its walls, encourage public engagement, and assert itself as an integral feature of urban Philadelphia’s future.

As an institution dedicated to disseminating knowledge, preserving the history, and celebrating the future of architecture in Philadelphia, the Athenaeum requires a contemporary, forward thinking design, which, in terms of form and scale, also respects and refrains from overpowering the historical character of its urban context.  The ground level and upper story, designed to flow as an extension of the street, provide ample public and semi-public spaces for community interaction.   The lower floors of the building, gently sheltered from the bustle and commotion of the city above, provide an ideal environment for the more academic functions of the building.