Our Building

The design of Perry World House was inspired by the building that has stood on the site since the late 19th century.

A seamless combination of new construction and historic renovation, Perry World House reimagines the concept of a “house” with its expansive open spaces, intimate gathering areas, copious natural light, clean visual sightlines, modern art, and sumptuous building materials.

Perry World House has received two architectural awards to date:  the AIA New York State 2017 Design Awards, Award of Citation; and the 2017 Architizer A+ Awards, Popular Choice: Higher Education & Research Facilities.

Close attention has been paid to how people gather and interact, both within the building and in the adjacent outdoor areas. Each design decision intentionally supports the goal of creating an environment that nurtures individual contemplation and encourages productive interdisciplinary collaboration.

Building Opening Hours

Our building is open to the public and the Penn community. In keeping with the University of Pennsylvania’s latest update on campus masking policy, masks are now optional for all visitors to Perry World House. Please note that we have now switched over to our summer schedule.

  • Monday to Thursday: 9am-5pm
  • Friday: 9am-5pm
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed

Interested in hosting an event at Perry World House? See here for more information.