Rosenbach Museum and Library
Philadelphia, PA
The Rosenbach Museum and Library is known for its outstanding collection of rare and unique books and manuscripts, as well as its fine examples of 18th and 19th century decorative arts. The museum is housed in an elegant 1864 townhouse that is listed on the National Register of Historic places. In order to expand its educational initiatives and public programs, the Rosenbach purchased the adjacent townhouse. Our firm completed renovations to the adjacent building, as well as the restoration of the original house museum.
The first phase of the project involved the complete reconstruction of the newly acquired building, including the insertion of a steel structure within the existing masonry walls, and the addition of a fourth floor. The new building provides meeting spaces, a temporary exhibition gallery, a reading room, high-density collection storage facilities, staff offices, and a gift shop. An accessible entrance to the facility and an elevator permits access to all levels of both buildings. Openings were created in the party wall between the two buildings to provide open circulation and accessibility to all public areas.
The second phase of the project was the restoration of the original house museum. This work included reinforcement of the structure, HVAC system upgrades and new security, fire protection, lighting and electrical systems.