This spring, Temple University is set to celebrate a significant milestone as it breaks ground on an innovative new facility dedicated to the Klein College of Media and Communication and the Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts. The ambitious project will be prominently located on the west side of North Broad Street, directly facing the entrance to Polett Walk, making it a highly visible addition to the campus.
Upon completion, the expansive 199,000-square-foot structure will not only modernize and enhance the teaching spaces for Klein College, as well as the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts (TFMA) and the Boyer College of Music and Dance, but it will also establish itself as a vibrant community hub for activity, education, and entertainment. As a landmark building on North Broad Street, this facility will continue the rich tradition of arts and culture that has historically thrived in the heart of Philadelphia, thereby fostering deeper connections between Temple University and other prominent cultural and educational institutions such as The Met, PAFA, The Kimmel Center, and the Academy of Music.
An official groundbreaking ceremony for this transformative facility is scheduled for spring 2025. Designed by the renowned international architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, this state-of-the-art building reflects Temple’s commitment to excellence in education and community partnership.
“This is a pathbreaking project for both Temple and North Philadelphia,” emphasized Temple University President John Fry. “This new, state-of-the-art facility will provide resources and opportunities that will prepare a more agile and adaptable workforce of future journalists, communicators, and performing artists. It is also an opportunity for us to further our engagement with our North Philadelphia neighbors.”
Temple’s leadership has been diligently collaborating with the coordinating registered community organization, which has shown overwhelming support for the project. This backing stems largely from the building’s design, which takes community needs into consideration. Over the past year, Temple has successfully navigated both legislative and land use approval processes and has actively engaged the community through meetings and presentations to various city committees, including the Civic Design Review Committee, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, and the Rules Committee hearing of Philadelphia City Council.
The visibility of the new building from North Broad Street is poised to encourage robust community engagement. It will house a sophisticated cluster of theaters, featuring a 375-seat proscenium venue, a 180-seat cinema, a versatile 140-seat black box theater, and a 63-seat screening room. These performance spaces will not only replace the existing facilities in the aging Tomlinson/Annenberg complex but will also expand the capacity for artistic expression.
The new facility will further empower Klein to enhance its relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods. In recent years, the Klein College has played a pivotal role in establishing professional news organizations, such as Kensington Voice and Germantown Info Hub, catering to the local Philadelphia communities. Moreover, initiatives like the Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting and the Claire Smith Center for Sports Media ground Klein’s work deeply in community engagement efforts.
“There are numerous ways the Klein College of Media and Communication aims to deepen our community ties,” stated David Boardman, dean of Klein. “An open and visible building along North Broad Street will naturally lead to a plethora of opportunities for community collaboration, and we are eager to see how these relationships will flourish in the coming years.”
The current facilities within the 55-year-old Annenberg Hall/Tomlinson Theater complex limit many Klein and TFMA programs. The new building will offer critical resources, allowing these programs to expand and better prepare students for an evolving job market while facilitating collaboration within and between disciplines.
“Disciplines are fusing more than ever,” remarked Robert Stroker, dean of the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts and Boyer College. “This project will bring our theater and film programs together in a way that enhances our educational offerings. We train actors for both stage and screen and are developing filmmakers who grasp the importance of costumes and sets. This new building will position our students for unprecedented levels of success.”
A standout feature of the new facility will be a modern, integrated student media center, which will accommodate The Temple News, Temple TV, WHIP, and student-led advertising and public relations agencies. Additionally, the building will boast cutting-edge audio/editing suites, a podcast studio, wellness rooms, and a virtual reality/innovation lab that are all designed to meet contemporary needs.
Students in TFMA will benefit from expanded costume and scene shops, rehearsal spaces flooded with natural light, and an industry-standard soundstage complete with an adjacent directing lab and new media studio. Other new features will include an animation lab and upgraded post-production facilities encompassing editing suites, a sound mix suite, Foley and ADR studios, an immersive audio and VR suite, a color correction studio, and a digital intermediate theater/classroom.
“Technology and spatial requirements are continually evolving in our field. The updated facilities will be vital for preparing our students for the future,” concluded Stroker. “They will enable us to stay ahead of industry trends and to offer our students the best education possible.”
The same advancements in technology will extend into youth engagement and education initiatives. Local youth will have the chance to utilize the new technologies and equipment, learning skills such as music recording and podcast production—an opportunity that might otherwise remain out of reach.
“Community engagement is a central focus of this new building,” noted Valerie Harrison, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact. “Our recent initiatives aim to create pathways to higher education for local youth, and this facility will serve as a launching pad, offering them insights into new careers and fields they may never have considered prior.”
Boardman and Stroker anticipate that the new facility will play a strategic role in recruiting exceptional faculty and prospective students. Additionally, the design prioritizes adaptability to ensure it meets the needs of future students. “We envision this building as a living, breathing entity,” Boardman said. “Our intent is to plan it in a way that ensures its relevance for the next 50 years, which is indeed a significant responsibility.”
After groundbreaking in the spring, construction is expected to take at least 30 months, with an anticipated opening for the Temple community at the start of the fall 2027 semester.
Most of the financial backing for this significant project has been secured through state funds specifically earmarked for its development, ensuring that no tuition dollars will be allocated to its support. Any additional necessary funding will be pursued through targeted fundraising efforts.
Learn more about the historic project here.
How does Dean Boardman envision the role of community partnerships in the development and use of the new facility?
**Interview with David Boardman, Dean of Klein College of Media and Communication, on Temple University’s New Facility**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dean Boardman. Temple University is about to break ground on an exciting new facility for the Klein College of Media and Communication. What does this project mean for the college and its future?
**David Boardman:** Thank you for having me! This project is truly transformative. Not only will it modernize our teaching and learning spaces, but it’s also going to serve as a vital community hub. We envision a place where students, faculty, and the local community can come together to engage in arts, education, and collaboration. The visibility of the facility on North Broad Street will be a beacon for community engagement.
**Interviewer:** President John Fry mentioned that the new facility will help prepare a more adaptable workforce of future journalists, communicators, and performing artists. How will the new design support this goal?
**David Boardman:** The new building will feature advanced resources tailored to the needs of today’s media landscape. For instance, we’ll have a state-of-the-art integrated student media center that caters to our various student-run projects, including The Temple News and Temple TV. This will create real-world opportunities for students to practice and hone their skills in a professional environment, making them more competitive as they enter the job market.
**Interviewer:** It seems like collaboration is at the heart of this new facility. Can you elaborate on how the design encourages inter-disciplinary work?
**David Boardman:** Absolutely! As our fields have evolved, we’ve seen a blending of disciplines like never before. The new facility will bring our theater and film programs closer together, allowing for collaborative projects that incorporate acting, film production, and media studies. This integration will foster a richer educational experience and better prepare students for a variety of roles in the arts and media.
**Interviewer:** How has the community responded to this project?
**David Boardman:** We’ve been heartened by the overwhelming support from the community. We’ve engaged with local organizations and held public meetings to ensure that the building meets community needs. Our collaboration with community partners has shaped this project, which we believe will enhance our relationship with North Philadelphia and beyond.
**Interviewer:** what are you most excited about in terms of the new facility?
**David Boardman:** I’m most excited about the potential for creativity and innovation it will unleash among our students. With cutting-edge studios, rehearsal spaces filled with natural light, and advanced technology, our students will have everything they need to push boundaries and explore new artistic avenues. This facility will not just enhance our educational offerings but also serve as a venue for community artists and performances.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dean Boardman, for sharing these insights about the new facility. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on both Temple University and the North Philadelphia community.
**David Boardman:** Thank you! We’re eager for the groundbreaking in spring 2025 and can’t wait to see how this project unfolds.
