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Related Projects:

Renovated interior of Northeastern University’s Snell Library with colorful lounge seating, modern lighting, and students working in open collaborative spaces.

Snell Library Renovation

Northeastern University

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Interior of the University of Delaware Fintech Innovation Hub designed by MGA Partners, featuring flexible seating, glass partitions, and collaborative workspace for students.

Fintech Innovation Hub

University of Delaware

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Evening photograph of the Celebrezze Federal Building in downtown Cleveland

Celebrezze Federal Building Renovation

General Services Administration

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Area

74,000 sf

Certification

LEED Gold

In the Media

An Urban Layout Reinstated, The Plan Magazine
Clear Innovations, Context Magazine
Cersaie 2025, American Delegation Presentation

Night view of the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.

Winner, Institutional Category
Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition

Interior photograph with students of the Academic Research Building by MGA Partners.
A collaborative zone at the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.
A student admires the stairs designed by MGA Partners.

To unite the wedge-shaped building on the interior, and increase its prominence from the adjacent campus pathways, a vibrant Identity Mural comprised of graphic glass panels was designed as a focus from within the space as well as a means to enhance views from the exterior.

Diagram Highlights the wall paneling
Sunlit atrium with curved glass stair connecting multiple floors.
Students walk down the stairs of the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.
A meeting room at the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.
A collaborative zone at the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.
Diagram of the layout of the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners

Wharton sees pedagogical needs changing over the life of the building, so the assortment of program spaces was carefully developed in collaboration with the senior administration to ensure that the potential for the building was maximized for long term usefulness and change.

Interior view of the Academic Research Building by MGA Partners
UP.WARB.PH.Interior20.phoneroom-h.jpg
Interior photograph with students of the Academic Research Building by MGA Partners.

The exterior elements—red brick, ceramic panels, and technically advanced fritted glass interpret the campus character.

Axonometric diagram showing the components of the Academic Research Building by MGA Partners at the University of Pennsylvani
Daytime view of the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.
Angled glass façade reflecting the surrounding campus architecture of the University of Pennsylvania.
Photograph of the curtain wall of the Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania by MGA Partners.

The building connects to the existing Wharton Steinberg Dietrich Hall, adding critically needed advanced classrooms, seminar rooms, student study rooms, informal spaces, academic departments and research institute suites.

Site plan showing the building’s connection to the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Students crossing spruce street toward the Wharton Academic Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania.

Academic Research Building
University of Pennsylvania

The Wharton School of Business is a cluster of buildings within the dense urban fabric and landscaped spaces of the University of Pennsylvania campus. The context of historic buildings, pedestrian circulation, service, and infrastructure make introducing a new building into the campus a thoughtful study of architectural form and resonance. The new five-story academic research building is located at one of the last sites on the main campus, having an important presence on Spruce Street across from the ‘collegiate gothic’ towers of the historic student residence Quad.

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