University of Pennsylvania

Completed in 2020 at a cost of $87.6 million, the Wharton School’s Academic Research Building was conceived from a need to move an existing electrical substation above ground; in the process, the university realized they could wrap a new building around it and connect to Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall on the south side.

The four-story, 68,000-square-foot structure houses academic and research space, including classrooms, group study rooms, a communal first-floor atrium with a two-story living wall, and the city’s first turntable loading dock. Additional benefits were a new electrical substation incorporated on the first floor, restoration of the 3600 block of historic Woodland Walk, and campus utility improvements.

As the civil engineer on MGA Partners’ team, Meliora was responsible for permitting and site civil services. Landscape and hardscape improvements were made to the site, which also underwent extensive utility infrastructure upgrades and creative stormwater solutions. Approvals for the latter were achieved through a combination of porous pavement, green roof, and offsite stormwater swap areas. Additional coordination and innovative design were required to address improvements above an existing below-grade SEPTA trolley tunnel.