University of Pennsylvania

Named for Penn's former President Amy Gutmann, who served from 2004 until 2022 until she was appointed the United States' Ambassador to Germany, Gutmann College House was designed to support the community goals of the College Houses at Penn. Located at the far western edge of campus (at 40th Street between Walnut and Locust Walk), it accommodates about 430 sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The 250,000-square-foot LEED Silver-certified project was completed in 2021 at a cost of $169.5 million.

Situated around a landscaped courtyard, the U-shaped complex features a 13-story tower along Walnut Street and two five-story wings to the south. Due to its location in a dense urban area, the project required review by local resident community organizations and the Civic Design Review committee, as well as approval from the Philadelphia Planning Commission. The adjacent, historic Free Library of Philadelphia was a factor in site planning and design.

Meliora provided full civil engineering design and permitting for the residence hall and campus/community green space. Our services included stormwater and utility design in coordination with the team’s landscape architect and mechanical engineers. One of Penn’s goals was to maximize green space to achieve a more than 20% reduction in impervious surfaces, which is notable for an existing site that was mostly lawn. Green roofs cover the majority of the building, and the large public lawn is a choice venue for concerts and other events. Porous unit pavers were installed in most of the pedestrian areas, and the existing service drive received porous asphalt. The only impervious areas are managed in several rain gardens throughout the site.

Awards
Gutmann College House was awarded Excellence in Craftsmanship by the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) and recognized by Ludowici/Terreal North America in its annual Project of the Year awards.

For more information about this project from its architect, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, click here, and for Penn’s Facilities & Real Estate Services page, click here.