Architecture-Themed Pop-Up Bar Opening At Former UArts Property: The Philadelphia Deal Sheet
Roughly a year after the University of the Arts suddenly shuttered, part of its former Center City campus will be reactivated in a manner that acknowledges the school’s design heritage.
Scout is debuting Frankie’s Summer Club, a leafy pop-up bar designed in conjunction with Interface Studio Architects, in the courtyard of Furness Hall at 355 S. 15th St. on Friday.
The bar, serving wine, seasonal snacks and ice cream, will be open Wednesday to Sunday.
This is “an invitation to reconnect with this historic space, to celebrate Philly’s creative energy, and to get a glimpse of what’s coming next,” Scout Managing Partner Lindsey Scannapieco said in a press release.
The firm, best known for its work on the Bok Building, plans to build affordable apartments for artists at the property. It was purchased alongside the adjacent Hamilton Hall for $12.5M through a bankruptcy auction earlier this year.
The pop-up’s name is a nod to iconic Philly architect Frank Furness, the namesake of the former dormitory.
ISA’s design for the space is based on an unrealized 1964 plan to expand the UArts campus designed by Louis Kahn, another renowned Philly architect.
PEOPLE
Julia Marchese has joined Colliers' Greater Philadelphia team as an associate in the brokerage's office division. She will be based out of the Lehigh Valley office.
SALES
ExchangeRight paid about $12.2M to buy a 25K SF Montgomery County shopping center from Arctrust. The site at 1937 York Road in Jamison is anchored by a Wawa and a Tractor Supply Co.
A CBRE team, including Matthew Gorman and Michael Shover, helped arrange the deal.
LEASES
Third-party logistics provider AMS Fulfillment has signed a 10-year lease for a roughly 180K SF industrial space at 710 American Blvd. in Bear, Delaware.
That represents 50% of the space The Davis Cos. and its joint venture partner, J.G. Petrucci Co., are building at the site. The project is expected to deliver in the third quarter.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
The University of Delaware has completed Building X, a 132K SF lab and academic building at its campus in Newark. It replaced McKinly Hall, which burned down in 2017. Architecture and engineering firm HGA designed the building.
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Faropoint is building a nearly 74K SF warehouse at 635 Swedesboro Road in Gibbstown. Workers will break ground this spring and are expected to finish the project by Q1 2026.
Leasing efforts will be led by a Colliers team that includes Marc Isdaner and Ian Richman.
THIS AND THAT
The city of Philadelphia and nonprofit developer Community Ventures will celebrate the completion of a 34-unit mixed-use affordable housing complex in Old City with a June 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Old First House, at 151 N. Fourth St., will provide supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals and bring almost 2,500 SF of commercial space to the neighborhood.
