Funding Priority: Facilities

Penn Engineering will continue to expand and modernize campus facilities to anticipate the future needs of our forward-thinking students and faculty. Modern facilities cultivate first-rate learning and research and also attract exceptional faculty who are experts in their fields. The Penn Engineering campus continues to grow with the addition of two new state-of-the-art facilities.

Amy Gutmann Hall

The revolution in big data and data analytics is driving decision-making and propelling innovation in virtually every discipline and business. This includes at Penn, where data science education and research has been flourishing even without the benefit of a centralized facility. In light of this rapid growth, it is a natural and strategic progression for Penn Engineering to bring a new data science building, named Amy Gutmann Hall, to the corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets (see rendering at right). Upon its completion, Amy Gutmann Hall will supercharge the work of scholars across a wide variety of fields and increase access to the tools of data analysis and predictive modeling across the University and beyond.

Lead architectural firm Lake|Flato, ranked top firm on the “2019 Top Architects List” by Architect magazine, is designing the building. The architecture will denote the future and the dynamic shift from the traditional to the digital. The building will cultivate an inviting and accessible atmosphere where students and faculty can learn about data science and consult with data experts on how to analyze and utilize their own data. Interior laboratories, classrooms, common areas, offices, and workspaces of varying scales, exposures, and furniture types will support an ecosystem of academic cross-pollination that mirrors the interconnected nature of data science itself. At the same time, every space will be flexibly designed to support the evolving needs of students and faculty long into the future.

Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology

The new Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology, a joint project spearheaded by Penn Arts and Sciences and Penn Engineering, will provide new state-of-the-art research spaces where physical scientists and engineers can develop sustainable energy technologies. Located at the intersection of 32nd and Walnut Streets, this new facility will play a critical role in Penn’s aggressive and multifaceted commitment to creating a secure energy future.