Frank Furness Building in Philadelphia to Become Artist Housing
Scout is set to transform the historic Furness Residence Hall, crafted by Frank Furness, into affordable housing for artists, bolstered by a $2.5 million grant from the Knight Foundation announced this week. In 2024, Scout purchased the former University of the Arts (UArts) building at a bankruptcy auction. Following this, they collaborated with DIGSAU and AOS in 2025 to develop a vision plan, and that summer, ISA launched Frankie's Summer Club in the courtyard. The hall will feature 45 affordable artist housing units, including 35 long-term rentals for artists with incomes between 60-80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 10 furnished short-term units. Lindsey Scannapieco from Scout highlighted the project's importance for Philadelphia's cultural landscape.
Key facts
- Scout to convert Furness Residence Hall into affordable artist housing
- Building designed by Frank Furness, located on Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia
- ISA is the architect for the adaptive reuse
- Knight Foundation provides $2.5 million grant
- Scout acquired building in 2024 bankruptcy auction after UArts closed
- 45 units: 35 long-term rentals for artists at 60-80% AMI, 10 short-term residencies
- Part of Village of Industry & Art mixed-use hub
- Tenants include AIA Philadelphia, BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab
Entities
Artists
- Frank Furness
- Louis Kahn
Institutions
- Scout
- ISA
- Knight Foundation
- University of the Arts
- DIGSAU
- AOS
- AIA Philadelphia
- BlackStar Projects
- Community Design Collaborative
- DesignPhiladelphia
- Monument Lab
- Stained Glass Project
Locations
- Philadelphia
- United States
- Avenue of the Arts
- Furness Residence Hall
- Village of Industry & Art