University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Expansion

The expansion and renovation of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania unified the existing Stiteler and GSE buildings within the Social Services Quadrangle, advancing the University’s “One Penn GSE” vision to bring programs, faculty, staff, and students together in a single, connected facility.

The project included three structural additions: a four-story east addition to the GSE building, a three-story connector bridging the two existing buildings, and a two-story west addition to Stiteler constructed above and through the existing below-grade garage. New construction utilized structural steel framing with composite slabs and steel moment frames, carefully integrated with the diverse existing structural systems and foundation conditions at the Social Services complex.

Working within an active academic environment, the approximately 24,000-square-foot project required innovative structural solutions, including phased construction to maintain operations, installation of deep foundations within constrained spaces, reinforcement of the existing garage roof to support new overbuild construction and landscaped plaza loads, and the integration of a new green roof. The result is a cohesive, high-performing academic facility that seamlessly blends new and existing structures while supporting the evolving needs of the University community.