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Image credit: Bre Furlong
A seasonal pop-up bar is set to open on Philadelphia’s South Broad Street inspired by an unbuilt scheme by Louis Kahn. Designed by Scout and Interface Studio Architects, Frankie’s Summer Club is located in the courtyard of the Frank Furness building and is seen as the first public step in the transformation of the former University of the Arts campus.
The pop-up bar was designed as both a social destination and a design homage to a 1964 proposal by Louis Kahn to expand the University of the Arts. Though never built, Kahn’s plans envisioned bold, light-filled structures shaped by the needs of artists and educators.
The design of the new bar echoes Kahn’s vision through an architectural language of curved volumes, layered nooks, and light-responsive forms. The team also sought to align their vision with Kahn’s view of Philadelphia as a “site of layered histories, pragmatic invention, and radical imagination.”
Remaining open throughout the summer, Frankie’s marks the initial phase of Scout’s larger adaptive reuse project for the former UArts campus, centered around Hamilton Hall and adjacent Furness Hall. The team plans to redevelop the site as a creative and commercial hub, with phased renovations and early activations aimed at reintroducing public life to the space.
“Frankie’s symbolizes a legacy of inspiration and connections on this site – from the original architect Frank Furness, for whom it is named, to Louis Kahn, inspired by the space and Furness’s work, to the generations of students that passed through the courtyard,” said Lindsey Scannapieco, Managing Partner at Scout. “Frankie’s is more than a pop-up—it is a prelude for what is to come and an invitation. An invitation to reconnect with this historic space, to celebrate Philly’s creative energy, and to get a glimpse of what’s coming next as we begin a new chapter in these remarkable buildings.”
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