Penn plans to open the 38,700 square feet Platt Student Arts Performing Center in January 2027.
Located at the intersection of 33rd and Chestnut streets, the building will include a 300-seat proscenium theater, 125-seat studio theater, five rehearsal studios, and several support spaces. The facility’s construction costs $59.5 million and is one of several summer projects across campus.
In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn Live Arts Executive and Artistic Director Chris Gruits described the center as “exciting and transformational.” He said that it puts Penn at the “forefront” of the nation for resources supporting the performing arts.
Gruits explained that Penn has previously lacked sufficient space to accommodate students’ performing arts activities.
“Around 20% of Penn students are involved in performing arts in some way,” Gruits said. “It’s really been an issue for decades that students haven’t had enough performing arts space.”
He added that former Penn president Amy Gutmann had helped to “prioritize the funding” for the project before stepping down in 2022. 1979 College graduates Julie and Marc Platt, the lead donors, also advocated for the center after engaging with the performing arts community during their time at Penn.
Before beginning construction, Gruits said that PLA spoke with students, faculty, and stakeholders to determine the building’s design.
“A lot of the feedback we heard from students was they wanted a space that was around 300 seats, and that was really optimized for music, theater, and dance,” he said, adding that those were identified as “priority disciplines.”
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Gruits added that the Platt Center is an addition to Penn’s “network of spaces” for performing arts, which includes the Annenberg Center, Iron Gate Theater, and Irvine Auditorium. He noted, however, that Platt will be the first building “totally dedicated” to student use.
“Students have priority use at all times,” Gruits said. “You’ll see some guest or public events during the summer when students aren’t there, but it’s a student performing arts center first and foremost.”
Penn first announced plans for the performing arts center in August 2021. The project was initially expected to cost around $31 million and to have a 450-seat theater.
The Platt Center is also supported by other donors — including 1971 College graduate Edward Kane and his wife, Marty Wallace. Kane’s $5 million gift specifically funds the construction of the 300-seat proscenium theater.
