We're Moving to VIA!

First community members–AIA Philadelphia, BlackStar Projects, Community Design Collaborative, DesignPhiladelphia, Monument Lab, and The Stained Glass Project—to anchor early activations at VIA

October 1, 2025 (Philadelphia, PA) — This fall, the former University of the Arts buildings at Broad and Pine will begin to activate with partner events, forming the beginnings of their new incarnation as the Village of Industry & Art (VIA), a cultural and creative center at the intersection of art, industry, and public life in the heart of Philadelphia.

Scout, the Philadelphia-based design and development practice stewarding the project, will begin activating spaces with partners in a soft launch phase this fall and winter. During this phase, some of the first community members will begin to move into VIA— including AIA Philadelphia, BlackStar Projects, Community Design Collaborative, DesignPhiladelphia, Monument Lab, and the Stained Glass Project. These organizations and other external partners will host events at VIA in the coming months, taking place in their own spaces, as well as in some of the public areas, such as the great hall of the iconic 1826 building designed by John Haviland.

“The Village of Industry & Art is an open invitation—to experiment, to build, to belong,” said Lindsey Scannapieco, Managing Partner at Scout. “Our phased approach allows the community to gradually come alive again, with early programming shaping the space. By spring, we’ll unveil more—with a range of additional tenants fully moved in, and a slate of thoughtful events and activations.”

Between now and spring 2026, the public will have the opportunity for a few glimpses into how VIA is taking shape, from Frankie’s Summer Club, a vibrant seasonal pop-up nestled in the courtyard of the iconic Frank Furness building on 15th Street and open through early November, to DesignPhiladelphia’s opening celebration on October 3 in the great hall of the Haviland building.

Details for 2026 programming, as well as the plan for subsequent phases of VIA, introducing food and beverage concepts, affordable artist housing, and studios, will be announced in the new year.

About the The Village of Industry & Art
The Village of Industry & Art (VIA) is a new creative destination on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts—a dynamic, evolving ecosystem for artists, makers, and mission-driven organizations at the intersection of culture, craft, and civic life. Led by Scout, the project spans over 110,000 sqft and 1.9 acres, reactivating two iconic historic buildings—formerly Hamilton and Furness Halls of the now-defunct University of the Arts—through an adaptive reuse approach that prioritizes affordability, minimal intervention, and community-first design. Rather than wait for a grand opening moment, VIA is coming to life through early activations and collaborative occupancy, inviting a growing network of tenants to help shape its future from within.

VIA will host a diverse group of founding tenants including BlackStar Projects, Monument Lab, DesignPhiladelphia, the Community Design Collaborative, and the Stained Glass Project—alongside local artists, makers, and small-scale retailers.

Inspired by Scout’s successful Bok Building model, the Village of Industry & Art is more than a redevelopment—it's a living, working village for cultural production and public imagination. Here, the boundaries between art and industry, creation and community, are intentionally porous—inviting Philadelphians to build and dream together.

About Scout
Scout is an American design and development firm nationally recognized for transforming historic, underutilized buildings into vibrant, community-centered hubs. With a core philosophy of minimal intervention, Scout preserves architectural character while unlocking new creative and economic possibilities—demonstrating how adaptive reuse can serve as a tool for cultural revitalization, affordability, and inclusive growth.

Unlike traditional developers, Scout doesn’t just build spaces—they lead the design process and remain long-term stewards, actively managing their properties to cultivate thriving ecosystems of artists, entrepreneurs, and neighborhood partners. Their work balances preservation with progress, fostering collaborative environments that strengthen local communities and fuel creative economies.

This approach is exemplified by the Bok Building—a 340,000 sq ft former vocational high school in South Philadelphia—now home to over 200 tenants, including artists, nonprofits, small businesses, and food entrepreneurs. Scout’s flexible leasing model, phased renovation strategy, and ongoing programming have enabled tenants to grow in place: between 2015 and 2018, 49 tenants expanded their spaces by an average of 125%. Today, over 60% of Bok’s tenants are women- or minority-owned, far surpassing industry norms and affirming Scout’s commitment to equity as

Founded in London in 2011 by Lindsey Scannapieco, Scout has grown into a nimble, multidisciplinary collective headquartered in Philadelphia. With expertise in design, planning, community engagement, hospitality, and operations, Scout takes a minimum viable product approach to real estate—rapidly activating spaces, testing ideas in real time, and evolving based on community need. As a nationally certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), Scout prioritizes long-term impact over short-term return, designing and managing places that are resilient, inclusive, and culturally vibrant.

Beyond buildings, Scout engages in bold, participatory public art projects like the Ebba Sparre Sauna Collective in Philadelphia and Watch This Wall in London—installations that spark connection and joy. What sets Scout apart is their commitment to working with the grain of existing architecture and neighborhood identity—preserving history while imagining new possibilities, and remaining deeply invested in the life of their projects long after the doors open.