A vintage image of a workman repairing a section of wall during the 1980s restoration of Carpenters’ Hall.
ONCE IN A GENERATION…
This is your chance to play a role in a once-in-a-generation effort to ensure the preservation of Carpenters’ Hall. The Hall, constructed in 1774, has stood as a monument to the contributions of Philadelphia’s builders and craftsmen for nearly 250 years. Carpenters’ Hall was constructed to house The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia- a trade guild built in a dazzling late 18th century Georgian style for the master builders whose contributions led to the original built landscape of the city. Almost as soon as construction on Carpenters’ Hall finished, The Company hosted The First Continental Congress in its four walls. Over 6 weeks in 1774, that key meeting laid the groundwork for what would become American Democracy.
The history of Carpenters’ Hall is irrevocably tied to the history of architecture in the United States. The Carpenters’ Company operated the nation’s first school of architecture in the 1820s, and Carpenters’ Hall is where the profession’s leaders have met to advance the craft of architecture and build camaraderie and community for nearly three centuries.
Given the Hall’s architectural significance and its connection to the history of Philadelphia’s built environment, AIA Philadelphia has partnered with The Carpenters’ Company to raise awareness of this project. The Company has already raised about $1.6 million of the $2.6 million project cost, mostly from its current members, supplemented by some state funds. They are now reaching out to the broader community to raise the remainder.
Anyone who gives $500 or more will receive a complimentary copy of Charles Peterson’s coffee-table book Robert Smith: Architect, Builder, Patriot 1722-1777. Smith was the master builder of Carpenters’ Hall and the leading architect in 18th-century America.
The Carpenters’ Company is massively thankful for the support of AIA Philadelphia and its members. We hope you join your other colleagues who have already contributed to our efforts to preserve Carpenters’ Hall.
