01-07-2025
New summer pop-up bar is a sign of "what's to come" for old UArts space
The design firm that repurposed South Philly's Bok Building has opened a new summer pop-up bar near a former University of the Arts building.
Why it matters: Frankie's Summer Club is a "prelude for what's to come" for the old Furness Hall building along South Broad Street, Scout managing partner Lindsey Scannapieco said in a statement.
Driving the news: The pop-up debuted last month in the building's courtyard and will stay open through the summer, offering seasonal wines, snacks and soft-serve ice cream.
Catch up quick: Scout bought the former UArts dormitory in bankruptcy proceedings this year along with historic Hamilton Hall.
The firm wants to reinvent the spaces to serve Philadelphians, with a focus on the arts and affordability.
The group plans to tap into a network of artists, businesses and civic partners to transform the site in phases that include several "immediate activations," Scannapieco said.
The intrigue: For the pop-up bar's design, Scout teamed up with Studio Architects, drawing inspiration from one of architect Louis Kahn's old design proposals.
The bar's curved tables and tube-shaped structures are a nod to Kahn's love of geometric shapes.
