Our Mission

The Village of Industry & Art (VIA) reimagines the historic John Haviland and Frank Furness buildings on South Broad Street to continue as a center for supporting Philadelphia’s creative life. Rooted in the building’s legacy of industry, experimentation, and craft, VIA supports artists, designers, and cultural producers with space to work, live, and collaborate in the heart of the city—keeping creativity and working craftspeople embedded in the place where it has always thrived. As a beacon to the world, VIA amplifies the art and industry that power Philadelphia, connecting its local creative community to a global cultural conversation.

Site History

Haviland/Furness Hall carries nearly 200 years of education, creativity, and community right in the heart of Philadelphia. Haviland Hall, the oldest surviving building on Broad Street, predates even Philadelphia City Hall and stands as a true witness to the city’s architectural and educational evolution. Together, these structures were designed by noted architects John Haviland and Frank Furness, marking and gathering history. Today, VIA seeks not only to preserve this remarkable legacy, but to actively build upon it—reimagining these historic spaces as new homes for contemporary artists, makers, and community life.

1824

Haviland Hall built

The “Haviland-Strickland” building is designed by architect John Haviland for one of the country's first schools for the Deaf and construction is complete by 1825. The east and west wings of the building are added by 1837 as the institution grows.

1875

Furness Hall built

Famed Philadelphia architect Frank Furness designs an addition for dormitories for the Institution for the Deaf in 1875—so called “Furness Hall.”

1893

PMSIA moves in

The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (PMSIA) is chartered and founded in 1876, inspired in great part by the historic Centennial Exposition hosted in Fairmount Park the same year. PMSIA’s purpose is to be “distinctly industrial.” In 1893 the PMSIA acquires Haviland and Furness Halls and by 1901 City Hall is completed, solidifying Broad Street as a central hub of civic life.

1964

The museum separates

PMSIA’s “museum” and “art school” separate in 1964: the museum becomes the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the school becomes the Philadelphia College of Art (PCA).

1987

University of the Arts is born

The Philadelphia College of Art (PCA) becomes the University of the Arts (UArts) in 1987.

2024

UArts closes

The University of the Arts abruptly announces their closing, due to bankruptcy, in June 2024.

Photo by Tom Gralish for The Philadelphia Inquirer

Spring 2025

Scout acquisition

On March 17, 2025 the former UArts site is acquired by Scout, the organization behind the transformation of the Bok Building in South Philadelphia. Similar to their work at Bok, the goal is to keep the space accessible to working artists, makers, and small businesses, and provide affordable housing for artists in Furness Hall.

Summer 2025

Scout invites the city in

From June 4-8, 2025, Scout hosts a five-day “Celebration of Life” in the building’s atrium to honor the legacy of UArts. Later that same summer they open Frankie’s Summer Club (a nod to architect Frank Furness) as a temporary pop-up in the courtyard, welcoming the community back into the space.

2026

Building the community

The first tenants move in as Scout begins to breathe life into a historic space where art, culture, and creativity can continue to grow in Philadelphia. 2026 anticipates mass citywide celebrations for the United States’ Sestercentennial (250th Anniversary).

Our Team

Lovingly restoring and operating Village of Industry & Art since 2025. To learn more about the Scout team and what they do, visit our website

Recognitions

2025

Global Philadelphia Globy Awards

2025

Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

For more recognitions for Scout, see here