Name: George Poulin
Age: 29
Education: B. Arch, Drexel University, 2007
What's the location and investment in this project?
3711 Market Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Construction cost $642,200.
Why is your project important to the neighborhood or the city at large?
The
University City Science Center, which forms and funds life science and technology companies, is a powerful economic engine for the city and surrounding region. Although the Science Center encompasses over two million square feet of real estate including 15 buildings, it lacked a physical space where scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs could gather, exchange information and ideas, and nurture partnerships. This was the impetus for Quorum.
The high-tech gathering space was designed with flexibility in mind to accelerate the transfer of ideas to the marketplace by accommodating a wide variety of programs, configurations, networking tools, and touch-down spaces. In the first year since the Quorum opened, it has hosted more than 170 events, attended by over 8,000 people. In this short period of time, it has established itself as a regional asset, fostering innovation, growing companies and creating jobs.
What was the biggest obstacle in completing this project?
Creating a flexible environment that could just as easily accommodate a group of five as it could 200 without the more austere aesthetics of a hotel conference room.
Did you have any key partners or collaborators in making this project a reality?
The Science Center identified the need for a dynamic gathering space and proposed the concept of "a clubhouse for innovation." More than 28 area financial sponsors helped make the Quorum a reality. The project team was comprised of:
Architect: UJMN Architects + Designers
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: Vinokur Pace Engineering
Multimedia Design: FutureSys
General Contractor: Gardner/Fox Associates
Multimedia Installation: IMS Audio Visual
How do you feel like your personal stamp, or that of your firm, is placed on this project?
The Science Center recognized the need for a flexible gathering space and came to us with the initial concept. After reviewing the program, we recognized the potential to raise the profile of the Science Center even further by designing a space unlike any other in the region. Quorum is very open with moveable partitions and furniture, and integrated technology that foster meetings at any scale and make it a comfortable and inviting connecting point to form alliances.
What is the most innovative or distinctive part of this project?
The character of the Quorum is quite distinct from the majority of spaces in the 3711 Market Street building, which are more corporate in nature. Quorum takes its cues from urban loft space and integrates interior glass garage doors, swinging partitions, folding glass walls and plug & play stations that create a truly interactive, reconfigurable environment, where ideas and collaboration can flourish.
Photos by: Paul Bartholomew
AIA PHILADELPHIA was founded in 1869 and is among the oldest and most distinguished of AIA Chapters, with a long history of service to members and the public. AIA Philadelphia organizes architects in the region for the purpose of advancing their influence in shaping the built environment, and their ability to effectively practice architecture in an ever-changing society and competitive marketplace. The YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM provides a place for young architects to network and communicate with one another, the College of Fellows, and Associate Members regarding mentorship, leadership, and fellowship.