scout
Support Scout's Bid
for the former UArts Arts Hamilton & Furness buildings!
Updated 02/05/25 04:19pm
Hamilton and Furness Halls are the oldest buildings on all of Broad Street (North or South), and have been dedicated to arts-centered uses since 1893. In 1894, the building became the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts (PMSIA). The PMSIA consisted of the School of Applied Art (also called Industrial Art), the Philadelphia Textile School, and a museum which later became the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In 1994, the buildings were transferred to the University of the Arts for $1.
Scout, the design and development practice behind Bok in South Philadelphia, has put in a bid to buy the former University of the Arts buildings Hamilton and Furness Halls, however on February 4, 2025, the UArts bankruptcy Trustee selected a New York City-based company, Dwight City Group LLC, which according to their website specializes in “affordable luxury apartments within 30 minutes to a Central Business District” - both have offered the same bid price.
Scout proposes to reuse the building as affordable creative studios and offices, alongside 45 affordable apartments for working artists with a portion set aside for an artist-in-residency program. Additionally the proposal includes a community events space and a food & beverage component. This plan proposes to repurpose all of the existing historic infrastructure for arts related uses.
Scout wants to keep the arts alive on the Avenue of the Arts, and is encouraging the Philadelphia community to show support for the continued use of these buildings by the arts community.
You can help by emailing a letter of support directly to the PA Attorney General's office, and to other recommended elected officials, below.
A court hearing is scheduled for February 18th during which a judge will hear arguments regarding the objection and the bids and will make a determination.
Inquirer article about the current bids:
https://www.inquirer.com/education/university-arts-building-bids-hamilton-hall-20250204.html
Who should I reach out to?
Trustee Alfred T. Giuliano
Judge Brendan L. Shannon
Judge_Brendan_Shannon@deb.uscourts.gov
PA Attorney General's Office
Senator Nikil Saval
City Council President Kenyatta Johnson
City Councilmember Mark Squilla
City Mayor Cherelle Parker
BCC us!
All the emails to copy & paste if you want to send one message to everyone:
Judge_Brendan_Shannon@deb.uscourts.gov, jill_walker@deb.uscourts.gov, info@attorneygeneral.gov, press@attorneygeneral.gov, saval@pasenate.com, kenyatta.johnson@phila.gov, mark.squilla@phila.gov, Cherelle.Parker@Phila.gov, atgiuliano@giulianomiller.com, hello@scout-ltd.com
What should I write?
Scout asks that letters remain positive and include some information about their individual or organizational affiliation to the arts and culture community and/or UArts (if you have one!), along with any personal history and anecdotes you want to provide.
Below is a sample message!
Dear <<recipient>>,
I am a Philadelphia resident of <<neighborhood or area>>. I am writing to express my strong support for Scout’s bid to purchase the Hamilton and Furness buildings as part of the UArts bankruptcy court real estate portfolio.
As a <<affiliation with UArts / role in the Philly arts community>>, I believe that Scout is the ideal steward for this historically significant building and has experience and a proven track-record of converting large historic buildings in Philadelphia into arts-centered spaces. I am asking you to object to the purchase of the building by an apartment developer.
Please help preserve this building in the heart of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts as an essential cultural space. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
<<Your Name>>
Want to add more? Here’s some additional content you can use.
Three of America’s foremost respected architects of the 19th century shaped Hamilton and Furness Halls. Hamilton Hall was built in 1824 by John Haviland. Broad Street in the 1820s was still an undeveloped wooded area and rural pastureland on the outskirts of the city. In 1838, the building was expanded by William Strickland, the architect behind the iconic Second Bank of the United States. In 1875, the gothic Victorian extension of Furness Hall was added to the building under the direction of architect Frank Furness. Hamilton is the oldest building on Broad Street (North or South) and was built prior to City Hall (1894), the Academy of Music (1855-57), and the Divine Lorraine (1892-1894) for context!
In 1894, the building became the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts (PMSIA). The school of PMSIA consisted of the School of Applied Art (also called Industrial Art), the Philadelphia Textile School, and a museum which later became the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Although the name changed over the years, the building has remained arts-centered and, in 1994, was transferred to the University of the Arts for $1. This building is one of only two buildings within the entire University of the Arts real estate portfolio that was donated to the University of the Arts (the other being the Arts Alliance). Today we support continuing this 130+ year legacy of arts space in these iconic and historic buildings and ensure that this legacy should not be diminished.
Scout is one of two woman-owned (WBE certified) commercial real estate developers in the City of Philadelphia and has a track-record of renovating large historic buildings for arts-centered reuse. Bok, a 340,000 sq ft project in South Philadelphia, is today home to over 200 artists, makers, creative small businesses, non-profits and others. Scout projects have received local, national, and international acknowledgement for excellence in adaptive use and economic development. Notable recognitions include the Congress of the New Urbanism Charter Award (2020), the Urban Land Institute Philadelphia’s 2021 Vision Award for Transformative Development, a longlisting in the 2022 Dezeen Awards Rebirth Projects category and the ULI Philadelphia Emerging Leader Award (2023).
Scout’s commitment to supporting both artistic and entrepreneurial talent and to creating vibrant arts-centered reuse aligns with the intended purpose of the building and helps keep the arts alive on the Avenue of the Arts.