OVERVIEW

Carpenters’ Hall is a National Historic Landmark [1975] located within the core area of Independence National Historical Park [INDE].
The Hall is significant at multiple levels:

a. It is an outstanding example of Early Georgian Architecture in America;
b. It was designed by Robert Smith, one of America’s early architects with a
significant impact on Colonial American Architecture;
c. It contains rare and very ingenious structural systems, found only in a handful
of places, such as Congress Hall and Old City Hall;
d. It played a significant role in the birth of our nation; and
e. It houses the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia
[CCCCP], an organization that shaped early American building traditions.

Today, the Hall - while still owned and operated by CCCCP -- is part of Independence National Historical Park, a historic site specifically created to celebrate Colonial America, the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence and the early years of the fledgling American democracy.

approach

PDP approached the Preservation Plan in three parts: Developmental History, Treatment and Use, and Maintenance Plan. In addition to these three key components, the firm suggested a few additions. First, under Developmental History, PDP suggests obtaining an agreement with the National Park Service, including Parkwide Archaeological Research, and gaining a better understanding of the utilities and below grade features throughout the park. In addition to the current treatment and use of the building, PDP proposed to perform an overview of the use patterns during a typical year, interview vendors, caterers, outside users, etc., and analyze how certain events unfold, from set up to before the event to clean up after the event. Lastly, PDP provided a detailed maintenance plan for use by the caretakers on a cyclical basis, annual bases, as well as for housekeeping.

STATUS

Completed [2019]