Special Structures

Penn holds its commencement ceremonies in Franklin Field. The 300,000 sf football stadium holds significantly more spectators than the 15,000 who typically attend graduation. In an attempt to reduce the building's scale, and to enhance commencement activities, a collapsible, modular canopy and stage system was designed. The new stage subdivides the field, concentrating guests on one side of the arena. An aluminum-framed truss system supports translucent graphic panels, video screens, and a sculptural fabric canopy. The project earned an AIA Philadelphia 2003 Citation for Design Excellence.