Bohlin Cywinski Jackson’s Center City Studio Wins AIA Philadelphia Design Award
The awards jury praised the project, located in the historic 123 South Broad Street tower, for its commitment to wellness and flexibility.
"This beautifully daylit office space was designed for long life and usability. We appreciate the focus on wellness and flexibility, and the team's commitment to post-occupancy evaluation to ensure that the project is performing as intended."
AIA Philadelphia recently hosted its annual Design Awards Celebration, honoring individuals and firms for excellence in design and contributions to the city’s architectural legacy. During the evening, Rebecca Johnson, the chapter’s Executive Director, recognized BCJ’s Philadelphia studio with an honor award, the highest recognition.
The new studio is an adaptive re-use of the former Midday Club at 123 South Broad Street, founded in 1929. The space had more recently been used as a library reading room for a law office. Soaring ceiling heights, intricate period details, and plentiful natural light provided a welcoming framework for a variety of flexible spaces for focused and collaborative work, virtual demonstration, gatherings, and more.
The design process preserved original ornamental details while carefully inserting modern elements. Historic terrazzo floors were restored, while non-historic elements were researched and removed. Full-height windows on the mezzanine level bring natural light into collaborative and meeting areas, with views across the studio and through the main level’s twenty-foot-tall windows.
Project collaborators included KMC Partners (General Contractor) and Mulhern + Kulp (Structural Engineer), with photography by Jeffrey Totaro.
