KieranTimberlake Completed Penn Weitzman School Expansion

The design project added 18,000 square feet to the historic Morgan Building in West Philadelphia.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Home Renovation

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern steel structure joined to a historic red-brick building facade. — KieranTimberlake completed an 18,000-square-foot expansion to the historic Morgan Building at the University of Pennsylvania, adding vital new studio spaces. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you prefer modern university buildings to incorporate historic structures rather than being built anew?

In 2026, architectural firm KieranTimberlake finished a 38,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. The project integrated a modern steel frame addition with the 1892 Morgan Building.

Why it matters

This expansion provides critical studio and learning space to support the university's growing degree programs in fine arts, planning, and design. It also modernizes aging facilities on the West Philadelphia campus that had not seen a major capital project since the 1960s.

The 38,000-square-foot facility includes an 18,000-square-foot addition and a 20,000-square-foot historic renovation. The project achieved a LEED Platinum rating while maintaining an embodied carbon footprint of 361 kilograms of CO2 per square meter.

The players

KieranTimberlake

This Philadelphia-based architecture firm is known for its focus on sustainable design and research-based building practices.

Stuart Weitzman School of Design

This University of Pennsylvania institution offers degree programs in design, fine arts, and city planning.

The details

The renovation work involved removing the third-floor ceiling of the original Morgan Building and reinforcing the attic to create studio space for over 60 planning students. A new four-story steel frame addition was constructed and joined to the historic structure through a glazed circulation connector.

The original Morgan Building was constructed in 1892.
The University of Pennsylvania acquired the building in 1899.
The school was renamed to the Stuart Weitzman School in 2019.
Construction on the expansion project began in 2024.
The project was completed in 2026.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a growing cultural shift toward adaptive reuse, where historic preservation is integrated with modern sustainable architecture. By prioritizing lower embodied carbon, the university aligns its campus growth with broader trends favoring environmentally conscious urban renovation.

Students and faculty at the university now have access to updated studio environments and expanded research areas for their design curricula. The renovation also enhances the aesthetic and functional utility of the 34th Street campus corridor for the local community.

The takeaway

This renovation proves that modern academic spaces can be successfully integrated with historic architecture through careful structural bracing and design. It offers a blueprint for other urban institutions seeking to expand their footprint without sacrificing their historic identity.