The quirky Mercer Museum, a National Historic Landmark, is known for its unique concrete construction and its fabulous, though static, collection of historical artifacts. The museum needed a changing exhibition gallery to keep attracting visitors, a primary entrance with amenities, loading dock, store, classroom and visitor orientation spaces. A primary concern was keeping the massing of the addition low enough to not obscure important views of the historic building. Windows and large skylights in the grand entry hall allow immediate views of the original museum, while the board formed poured-in-place concrete structure and the white stained concrete floors relates to the original construction methodologies in a modern way.

The great hall serves for event space: fundraisers, wedding receptions, community events. A semi-private paved terrace is a focal point at end of the hall and extends the events to the outside.

Site work included pedestrian and vehicular access, drop-off, and expanded bus and car parking facilities, and sustainable storm water management includes a green roof, pervious paving, and a rain garden.

PUBLICATIONS

• "Changing Skyline: Mercer Museum Adds Space with a Well-Crafted Concrete Addition" by Inga Saffron. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 June 2011.
• Museum Design: Architecture, Culture, Geographic Environment. Sendpoints Publishing: Hong Kong, 2015.
• “Debuts: The Mercer Museum, New Wing.” Museum, September/October 2011.