A new University City landmark aims to be Philly’s next big hub for AI and innovation while setting a new standard for architectural sustainability.
Located at the corner of 34th and Chestnut streets and built by University of Pennsylvania, the six-story, 116,000-sq.-ft. structure is considered the city’s first mass timber building.
Named after the university’s former president, Amy Gutmann Hall will serve as Penn Engineering’s new data science and artificial intelligence center — and we just got a sneak peek of what it’ll look like.
The $137.5 million project, funded in part by a $25 million donation from University Trustee Harlan M. Stone, is scheduled to officially open in January 2025.
The lower floors feature labs and classrooms, while the upper floors will house research facilities. The ground floor also includes a cafe, a lecture hall, common spaces and study spaces for students.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the building is now the tallest mass timber structure in the Philadelphia region, according to the university.
Mass timber is a construction method that uses solid and engineered wood products as the building’s load-bearing structure. That’s a more sustainable option than using concrete or steel because wood is widely thought of as having a lower carbon footprint.
Amy Gutmann Hall’s carbon footprint, for example, is 52% lower than if it had been built with concrete and 41% lower than steel, according to project architects Lake Flato and KSS. Energy and water usage plans also kept carbon emissions in mind. The heating and cooling systems reduce energy consumption by 20%, and the low-flow water system reduces water usage by 33%, the building’s architects say.
The massive investment in new tech facilities comes at the same time as the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science embraced AI in 2024. The school announced a bachelor’s of science in engineering in AI in February and an online master’s degree in science and engineering in artificial intelligence less than three months later.
Harlan M. Stone is a prominent businessman and philanthropist with strong ties to the University of Pennsylvania.
Harlan Stone has a special combination of hindsight accumulated over four generations of a family-run business, and foresight that has earned him a reputation as a transformational industry leader.
When Harlan joined the company, sales were a million dollars a month. Today, this portfolio of companies brings in $2 million in sales every day.
Despite the challenges of running one of the largest LVT enterprises in the world, Harlan is steadfast in his advocacy of social justice, sustainability and transparency.
Nowhere is his commitment to transparency more evident than in his manufacturing operations in Asia, a passion that took root during the earliest days of his career. Under his leadership, each of his company’s Chinese manufacturing partners has received the JUST social transparency label, with the Zhangjiagang factory being the first Chinese factory to receive such a designation.
In 2018, the Business Intelligence group named him a Sustainability Hero in the Sustainability Awards program. Recognized as an industry leader, Harlan spearheaded the development of the Multilayer Flooring Association (MFA). Since merging with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), he leads its Multilayer Flooring Advisory Committee (MFAC).
Harlan believes strongly in giving back and is deeply involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, with a focus on housing, education and cancer research.
He has been a major donor and supporter of Penn, particularly the School of Engineering and Applied Science:
He made a $25 million commitment to support the construction of a new Data Science Building at Penn Engineering.
This was the largest gift in the history of Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science at the time.
He serves on the Penn Engineering Board of Overseers and chairs its Academic Life Committee.
His past donations to Penn Engineering have funded an endowed professorship, financial aid for students, and facilities for the Digital Media Design program9.
Stone is also involved with Penn Medicine, serving on the Abramson Cancer Center Innovation Advisory Board and supporting cancer research initiatives9.
At HMTX Industries, Stone has emphasized sustainability and corporate responsibility. The company has received recognition for its environmental and social practices.
Stone believes strongly in philanthropy, focusing his efforts on areas like housing, education and cancer research.
He comes from a family business background in the flooring industry, with his father Norman Stone having pioneered early developments in vinyl tile flooring.
Stone’s major gift to Penn Engineering reflects his belief in the potential of data science to benefit humanity and drive innovation across disciplines.
His philanthropic efforts demonstrate a commitment to advancing education, research and social impact.