David Rittenhouse Laboratory
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2018) |
| David Rittenhouse Laboratory | |
|---|---|
 Exterior, ca. 2021 | |
| Former names | Physical Science Building[1] |
| General information | |
| Type | Academic, research |
| Location | University City |
| Address | 209 South 33rd Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Named for | David Rittenhouse |
| Opened | September 1954[2] |
| Renovated | 1967[2] |
| Owner | University of Pennsylvania |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6[2] |
| Floor area | 243,484 square feet (22,620.4 m2)[2] |
| Lifts/elevators | 2[2] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | James R. Edmonds, Jr.[2] |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Van Alan[2] |
The David Rittenhouse Laboratory (DRL) is an academic and research building at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The building is named for David Rittenhouse, a notable American astronomer and Penn professor of the 18th century and the president of the American Philosophical Society.[2]
DRL is the home of two departments of the University of Pennsylvania: the Physics and Astronomy Department and the Mathematics Department.[2] Many other disciplines also hold classes in the building due to its ample lecture space. Because of this, the building is one of the most heavily used at the university.[citation needed] There is also an observatory on the roof that is accessible to astronomy students.[1]
The three-story portion of the building was constructed in 1954. The four-story addition was built in 1967.[2] Partial funding for the building came from the General Authority of Pennsylvania, which has a seal displayed on the first floor of the building. The architect for the original structure was James R. Edmonds, Jr. though the addition was designed by Van Alan.[2] There are stylistic differences between the two parts of the structure – for example, the windows of the 1967 section on the Walnut Street facade are fashioned in the shape of the rounded-edge television monitors of the time.
In February 2019, a group of faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and staff petitioned the administration to fix the recurring maintenance problems (e.g., ceiling leakages and poor temperature) that occur in the building.[3]
References
- ^ a b "A Guide to the Flower and Cook Observatory Records, 1875 - 1987". University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center. 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "David Rittenhouse Laboratory". Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ Wang, Daniel. "Grad students petition Penn to fix DRL's recurring water leaks and poor working conditions". www.thedp.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
External links
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania
