Silverman Hall Renovation | University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School | Philadelphia, PA

The renovation of three historic classrooms within Silverman Hall, Goodrich Hall, the Kaufman/Glass Classroom, and the Bernard Segal Moot Courtroom, reimagined early 20th-century academic spaces as modern, technology-rich learning environments while preserving their architectural legacy. Originally designed in 1900 by Cope & Stewardson, these spaces are defined by vaulted plaster ceilings, ornate detailing, and enduring craftsmanship that required a highly sensitive and coordinated approach to modernization.

Keast & Hood served as the structural engineer for the project, developing discreet design solutions to support architectural, mechanical, electrical, acoustical, and accessibility upgrades. Our team evaluated existing floor and roof framing to accommodate new mechanical and electrical penetrations and designed targeted structural modifications to support heavy LED teaching screens, lighting systems, and advanced A/V infrastructure – carefully avoiding impact to the historic plaster vaults and finishes below.

Above the historic ceilings, steel-framed service platforms were designed and installed within tight attic spaces to allow safe access to mechanical equipment, requiring close coordination with field conditions to protect fragile plaster elements. Structural modifications were also completed to rebuild and re-support an existing fire and circulation stair, improving accessibility and egress while involving significant temporary shoring and permanent reinforcement of a major concrete floor beam. During construction, Keast & Hood coordinated the re-support of historic plaster ceiling components, modillions, and soffits as new linear mechanical diffusers were introduced.

Throughout the project, close collaboration with the architect and the university facilities team was essential to minimize structural intervention and preserve the building’s historic fabric. Phasing strategies were developed to allow the Law School to maintain classroom operations during construction, underscoring the project’s balance of functionality, continuity, and care.

The Silverman Hall renovations serve as a model for adapting historic academic spaces for 21st-century learning, demonstrating the power of thoughtful engineering in preservation-driven design. The project has received multiple honors, including an American Architecture Award and Preservation Alliance Grand Jury Award in 2021, a Trumbauer Award in 2025, a 2020 AIA Philadelphia Design Award, and an IIDA PA/NJ/DE Award.