Pop-Up Bar Inspired by an Unrealized Louis Kahn Design Kicks Off Scout’s Transformation of the Former UArts Campus
Frankie’s Summer Club Opens June 20, Forming a Prelude to a New Era for Philadelphia's South Broad Street
Design by Scout and ISA Architects; Food & Beverage by Michael Ferreri of Irwin’s
Philadelphia, PA (June 16, 2025) — On Friday, June 20, Philadelphia-based design and development practice Scout will launch Frankie’s Summer Club, a vibrant seasonal pop-up nestled in the courtyard of the iconic Frank Furness building on 15th Street. Designed by Scout and Interface Studio Architects (ISA), Frankie’s is conceived as a prelude to Scout’s visionary plan to reimagine the former University of the Arts campus as a new center for creativity, commerce, and community in Philadelphia, opening its first official phase this fall.
The architectural language of Frankie’s Summer Club is a nod to Louis Kahn’s unrealized 1964 proposal to expand the University onto what is now the site of the Kimmel Center. Kahn’s bold plan of monumental and volumetric structures was a direct response to the college’s need for the maximum amount of diffused northern light in the studios. By introducing a light shaft that spanned the entire interior of the building and flaring the base of the buildings to augment daylighting, urban planner and architect Edmund Bacon applauded the University’s “vision and courage to engage an artist with the unique genius of Louis Kahn.”
Though the design never came to fruition, its spirit now animates Frankie’s Summer Club’s in a contemporary interpretation, which reclaims the courtyard as a joyful, connective urban room. The design details— winding structures, playful curves, and inviting seating nooks— were inspired by Kahn’s unbuilt vision. To bring this vision to life, Scout partnered with local studio ISA - a nationally recognized architecture and research practice led by principals Brian Phillips, Deb Katz, and Alex Gauzza – known for creating innovative, context-driven urban spaces. Their work at Frankie’s reflects a belief shared by ISA, Scout, and Kahn in the city as a site of layered histories, pragmatic invention, and radical imagination.
Frankie’s will serve a selection of natural wines, seasonal snacks, and soft serve ice cream curated by Chef Michael Ferreri of Irwin’s at the Bok Building—a celebrated figure in Philadelphia’s culinary scene known for his fresh, minimalist take on Sicilian cuisine.
“Frankie’s symbolizes a legacy of inspiration and connections on this site – from the original architect Frank Furness, for whom it is named, to Louis Kahn, inspired by the space and Furness’s work, to the generations of students that passed through the courtyard. Frankie’s is more than a pop-up—it is a prelude for what is to come and an invitation,” said Lindsey Scannapieco, Managing Partner at Scout. “An invitation to reconnect with this historic space, to celebrate Philly’s creative energy, and to get a glimpse of what’s coming next as we begin a new chapter in these remarkable buildings.”
Frankie’s Summer Club sets the stage for Scout’s transformation of the former UArts buildings. The project is centered around the former Hamilton Hall—Broad Street’s oldest building, constructed in 1826—as well as the adjacent Furness Hall that Frankie’s is housed within, a landmark of Victorian design by famed Philadelphia architect Frank Furness.
Scout is working closely with a community of artists, mission-aligned businesses, and civic partners to reimagine the site as a dynamic ecosystem for making, convening, and collaboration. Building on its successful adaptive reuse of the Bok Building in South Philadelphia, Scout’s approach emphasizes phased renovations and immediate activations, allowing public life to return to the site as planning and restoration progress.
Frankie’s Details
- Address: 355 South 15th Street, Philadelphia PA 19102
- Hours:
- Wednesdays 4pm - 9pm
- Thursdays - Saturdays 4pm - 10pm
- Sundays 2pm - 8pm
- Public Opening: Friday, June 20
- Design: Scout and ISA Architects
- Fabrication: North Standard
- Food & Beverage: Michael Ferreri
About Scout
Scout is a Philadelphia-based design and development firm focused on the adaptive reuse of historic structures. With a commitment to inclusive and sustainable community development, Scout creates environments that support makers, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven organizations. Notable projects include the award-winning Bok Building, a former vocational high school reimagined as a 340,000 sq ft creative hub that now hosts over 200 tenants and draws more than 250,000 annual visitors.
Scout’s transformation of the former UArts campus is its most ambitious project yet—one that honors the past while cultivating a bold, inclusive future for Philadelphia’s creative community.
Media contact
Sara Griffin
+1-917-656-6348