Celebrating the Grand Re-Opening of The ARCH: The Heart of Penn’s Campus	Print Issue
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The reopening celebration last Thursday at the ARCH (Arts, Research and Culture House) showcased many student performing arts groups in the carefully restored spaces throughout the building which is home to three of Penn’s cultural resource centers: La Casa Latina; Makuu and PAACH, in addition to CURF and a new eatery, Tortas Frontera café, featuring cuisine from Chef Rick Bayless. The cornerstone of this historic late-Gothic Revival building was laid in 1927, and the building—which was designed by three Penn alumn­i—originally opened in March 1928 as the Christian Association. It was purchased by Penn in 1999 and in 2011, an anonymous donor gave Penn $15 million toward its restoration and renovation (Almanac May 3, 2011). A core achievement of the Making History campaign, this $24.5 million project (Almanac March 18, 2008) is a focal point, “the heart of Penn,” said President Amy Gutmann. It provides a variety of interactive digital and multi-media capabilities with flexible seating arrangements while retaining carefully preserved and restored wood paneling, ornamental plasterwork, leaded windows, a slate roof and four terracotta chimneys.

Look below for photographs by Marguerite F. Miller from the opening day.

Outside view of the ARCH from Locust Walk

CURF's main office on the second floor, overlooking Locust Walk

 

Amy Gutmann speaks at the ARCH reopening

 

Original feature of a staircase in the ARCH building

 

Outside the ARCH building on reopening day

 

View of Locust Walk from inside the ARCH building

 

The auditorium on the second floor of the ARCH

 

The ARCH entrance

 

Room 108 of the ARCH on reopening day

 

The DiLorenzo Lounge, on the first floor, named in memory of John F. DiLorenzo, C'34, by his grandson David and his wife, Melissa Raso

 

The construction of the original Christian Association building

 

Penn DuRe performed traditional Koren folk music during the celebration

 

Listening to the ceremonial blessing at the opening of the ARCH

 

Cheers at the reopening of the ARCH

 

Dancing in the third floor rehearsal space in the ARCH during the Open House

 

New elevator in the ARCH Building

 

Students in the newly renovated DiLorenzo Lounge

 

Window in the ARCH Building

 

La Casa Latina in the ARCH

 

President Gutmann (fourth from left) with Penn Atma

 

Chef Rick Bayless in his new eatery,Tortas Frontera café

 

Robb Carter and Chaplain Charles Howard