The New Platt Student Performing Arts Center: Meeting the Demand for Creativity and Community

The opening of our Platt Student Performing Arts Center represents a significant advancement for the University of Pennsylvania and the cultural landscape of Philadelphia. As one of the first theatres constructed in the city in more than a decade, and the first new venue at Penn in over fifty years, the Platt Center is a direct response to the university’s longstanding need for dedicated performing arts spaces. For years, the demand for performance and rehearsal venues has far exceeded available resources, reflecting the remarkable growth and passion within Penn’s student arts community. In fact, prior to the creation of the Annenberg Center in 1971 and the Platt Student Performing Arts House in 2006, Penn students only had two dedicated theatres to use, the Irvine Auditorium and the Class of ’49 Auditorium in Houston Hall. As the student population grew, and programs expanded, the need for performance space became critical.

Today, the performing arts are an essential aspect of life at Penn; more than 20% of our students participate in some form of performance. The Platt Center is designed and equipped to serve as a vibrant hub for these creative endeavors, with a special emphasis on musical theatre and dance. Not only does it support student groups during the academic year, but it will also accommodate University special events and Penn Live Arts programming when students are not using the building, ensuring continuous artistic engagement.

The Edward Kane Theatre, featuring a flexible 326-seat layout, is tailored to the diverse and innovative performances produced by students while also serving the needs of PLA programs across amplified music, jazz, contemporary dance and global sounds. Complementing this main theatre, a studio theatre and rehearsal spaces provide further adaptability and capacity, transforming the Platt Center into a bustling center for both rehearsal and performance. These environments are essential for accommodating the breadth and diversity of Penn’s performing arts activities.

Architecturally, the Platt Center stands as a gateway at the entrance to campus on 33rd Street. The building’s brown terracotta exterior and its thoughtfully considered form pay homage to the historic Fisher Fine Arts Library while also framing Schuylkill Yards and preserving the architectural legacy of the area. On a recent walk to 30th Street Station, I was able to admire the Center’s positioning and clever framing of Woodland Walk and the newer buildings of Schuylkill Yards in the distance.

As one of the many venues that PLA manages and presents programs in, the Platt Center will serve to support our deep commitment to serving both the university and the greater Philadelphia community through the performing arts. The Platt Center will host a range of events, including those developed through the Penn Live Arts accelerator program, and will be a venue for commissioning new works in music, theatre and dance, as well as for nurturing some of the world’s most promising artists. This dual commitment ensures that the benefits of the Platt Center extend beyond campus, enhancing cultural opportunities for audiences throughout the region.

We look forward to welcoming students, faculty, staff and community members to the Platt Center—where creativity, collaboration and artistic excellence will continue to thrive for years to come.