UPenn's 'Superblock Towers' Get Much Needed Facelift

Architect Daniel Kelley headed a team that modernized and softened the "Brutalist-style" campus dorm buildings.

1 minute read

July 15, 2005, 11:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

"Concerned that it was losing students to schools with more attractive campus housing, the university briefly considered a total overhaul - until the estimates came in at $350 million. Finally, five years ago, Penn vice president Omar H. Blaik persuaded university trustees to spend $90 million to purge the worst of the Superblock's Soviet-style ambience."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

FULL STORY: Changing Skyline -- Few touches transform Penn dorms

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Housing Pennsylvania

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.