Celebration of Life for Shuttered University of the Arts To Take Place in its Former, Historic Home, Hamilton Hall
Performances and Events Commemorating Anniversary of its Abrupt Closure
June 4-8, 1-7pm daily - Philadelphia, PA
Following the Celebration of Life, Scout, the design and development firm that now stewards the buildings, will begin its transition into a space for artists studios & housing, creative businesses, nonprofits, and events.
Philadelphia, PA (May 22, 2025) — Today, Philadelphia-based design and development practice Scout announced that they will host a Celebration of Life for the University of the Arts from June 4-8 in the historic Hamilton building at 320 South Broad Street that once housed the university. Taking place nearly one year after the abrupt announcement of the University’s closure, the Celebration of Life will provide a much needed forum for the UArts community to convene, grieve, and reflect.
The closure of UArts in early June 2024 sent shockwaves through the city and the national arts community, leaving not only students, faculty, and staff in limbo, but also sparking grief among generations of alumni who saw the institution as formative. In the months following, the buildings sat still, eerily preserved: studios frozen in time, hallways lined with ephemera—flyers, artwork, furniture, and supplies.
Earlier this year, Scout was the successful bidder in the bankruptcy auction for the Hamilton and Furness buildings in Philadelphia’s Center City, rallying public support for their adaptive reuse proposal which will maintain the space’s place as a hub for artistic and creative activity.
Before the space takes on a new life, Scout invites former UArts students, alumni, and community members to come together and gather at the Great Hall—an informal but powerful moment of collective grieving, celebration, and commemoration. The event, held in Solmssen Court – the atrium of the building – marks the kind of closure that the community was not afforded in the wake of the school’s sudden shutdown, and seeks to offer a way to honor the end of one chapter while setting intentions for what’s to come. A program of events will be published on the Scout website, including details on some key moments and people participating; there will also be opportunities for community driven performances via a sign-up link and opportunities to help with the celebration via another link. At the end, visitors will be invited to take UArts ephemera with them, as the building prepares to take on new life.
Lindsey Scannapieco, founder and managing partner of Scout, shared: “This space has held so many generations of creative energy at UArts, and we felt it was important to hold space for people to mourn and celebrate, to share memories, and to begin looking forward together. Marking this transition with a moment of gathering hopefully allows us to honor the past and set the tone for a new chapter.”
Scout’s mission centers on adaptive reuse, working across Philadelphia to reimagine buildings as dynamic, inclusive, and affordable spaces for artists, entrepreneurs, and the broader community. From the Bok Building – a 340,000 sqft historic school transformed into space for over 200 makers, nonprofits, small businesses, and artists, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually – in South Philadelphia to new efforts on Broad Street, Scout is committed to creating places that support production, convening, and collaboration.
Hamilton and Furness Halls are two of the most architecturally significant buildings on South Broad Street. Hamilton Hall, built in 1826, is the oldest building on Broad Street and has been a hub for education and opportunity since it was built, even before it became a center of UArts. The adjacent Furness Hall, designed by the legendary Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, is a masterpiece of Victorian-era design and an enduring landmark of the city’s creative legacy.
Scout’s full plans for the Hamilton and Furness Hall buildings will be announced in the coming months. Scout has begun conversations with creatives and mission-aligned businesses, and the first tenants are anticipated to move in this fall. The project will open in phases over the coming years, with renovations and public-facing activations unveiled in stages. Scout’s goal with a phased reopening is to activate the spaces quickly where possible and where minimal intervention is needed—to make them vibrant, useful, and accessible even as long-term planning continues.
Following the UArts celebration of life, the next public-facing component of the reactivation is Frankie’s Summer Club, a seasonal outdoor hospitality space in the courtyard of the Frank Furness Building. Opening in mid-June, Frankie’s will pop-up in a setting from ISA Architects inspired by a never-realized design by architect Louis Kahn in 1975 for the adjacent Kimmel Center site. Serving wine, ice cream, and snacks in partnership with local chef Michael Ferreri of Irwin’s, Frankie’s is designed as a gathering place and a joyful, welcoming environment where the community can reconnect with the space and each other.
Media contact
Sara Griffin
+1-917-656-6348