Innovative Design Creates Space for Art on Philadelphia's Waterfront
Founded in 2016, Philadelphia Contemporary is a contemporary art organization whose mission is to connect the people and places of Philadelphia through art and partnership. Currently nomadic, Philadelphia Contemporary presents visual art, performance art, and spoken word across the city.
AOS has been working with Philadelphia Contemporary to establish a permanent home for the organization and their events. The new facility will take the form of a unique, floating contemporary art gallery. The barge will be moored between the Cherry and Race Street piers on the Delaware River and will accommodate a 15,000SF two-story gallery building and outdoor terraces. Solar PV panels will support the net-zero energy goal of the project. The Floating Gallery will be periodically unmoored and tugged to different sites along the east coast, bringing attention to each location’s unique history, ecology, and potential.
The building design reflects Philadelphia Contemporary’s commitment to the site, the environment, and the community. In addition to providing a space for local artists to share their work, the Floating Gallery’s direct access to the river will allow Philadelphia Contemporary to use the water as a medium and platform for artistic projects. Artists, scientists, and thinkers will be able to creatively engage with the waters of the Delaware River in their projects and public programs. This will provide audiences with opportunities to learn about the ways in which their lives are connected with the river and to act in the best interest of all our futures.
Project Team:
Structural Engineer: David Mason & Associates; MEP Engineer: Mark Ulrick Engineers; Studio Sustena, Landscape Architect; AV/Acoustic Consultant NV5; BEAM, Lighting Consultant; Barge Consultant: Anchor Consultants; Sustainability Consultant: Transsolar Klima Engineering
"An intriguing design for a community arts organization in a prominent Center City waterfront spot...a great teaching tool for environmental design, offering a new perspective on public access to the Delaware River."Jury, AIA PA COTE Awards 2022
