Rowan University Opened New Philadelphia Arts Building

The institution inaugurated the Village of Industry and Arts following the 2024 closure of the University of the Arts.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Higher Education

Isometric editorial illustration of a brick university building with an arched entrance, representing a new academic arts center. — Rowan University officially opened its new Village of Industry and Arts in Philadelphia on October 1, restoring two graduate programs displaced by the 2024 University of the Arts closure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Rowan University officially opened the Village of Industry and Arts in Philadelphia on October 1, 2026. The new center restores two creative graduate programs that were suspended after the University of the Arts ceased operations in 2024.

Why it matters

The new facility ensures continuity for students in the Ph.D. in Creativity and MFA in Devised Performance programs, which Rowan integrated to align with its institutional focus on creative fields. These programs were previously interrupted by the University of the Arts shutdown, which was triggered by falling revenue and declining enrollment.

The Village of Industry and Arts building was fully redeveloped in 2025 through a partnership with the urban design firm Scout. The center features a debut exhibit highlighted by 75 pieces of sports memorabilia.

The players

Rowan University

A public research university based in New Jersey that has expanded its physical and academic footprint into Philadelphia.

Dan Baker

A prominent donor who provided a curated collection of sports memorabilia for the new university exhibition.

Pig Iron School

An arts training organization that partners with the university to deliver the MFA in Devised Performance curriculum.

Scout

An urban design firm that collaborated with the university to acquire and renovate the historic building.

The details

Rowan University redeveloped the site on S. Broad Street to house the Ph.D. in Creativity program, while the MFA in Devised Performance operates out of Old Kensington in partnership with the Pig Iron School. The university utilized cross-institutional dissertation committees to maintain the rigor of these programs after they were salvaged from the defunct University of the Arts.

June 2024: The University of the Arts closed its doors.
2025: The Village of Industry and Arts building underwent redevelopment.
October 1, 2026: Rowan University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility.

Culture Shift

The integration of these graduate programs reflects a growing trend where regional universities step in to preserve academic ecosystems left behind by struggling private art colleges. This transition highlights a shift in higher education toward consolidating specialized creative programs into more stable institutional frameworks.

Students formerly enrolled in the interrupted creative programs now have a permanent home and faculty support for their dissertations and performances. Local residents may also visit the new facility to view the sports memorabilia exhibit curated from the donation by Dan Baker.

The takeaway

The revitalization of these programs demonstrates the importance of cross-institutional partnerships in maintaining stability for specialized graduate students. Prospective students should monitor university updates regarding potential residency opportunities in the planned artist housing.