GOALS OF
RENOVATION
| ROOM BY ROOM
PRE-RENOVATION MAPS | POST-RENOVATIONS
MAPS
The Kelly Writers House is a place on Penn's campus
where students, faculty, staff and alumni...come together to discuss experimental
writing...produce a radio show on WXPN...make dinner...play jazz...watch independent
films...meet poets and novelists...create in electronic media...teach local kids how to
read...
In 1995, Provost Chodorow gave the keys to the house at 3805 Locust Walk to a group of
students, faculty and staff who had dreamed of creating a home for writers at Penn. Within
weeks, the Writers House, open to all, became the hub for Penn's rich and varied writing
community. But maintenance of the building had long been deferred. Help came in the form
of a generous donation by alumnus Paul Kelly, who in 1996 gave the house the funds it
would need to be completely rehabilitated and enhanced.
Renovations were set in motion by the hub. A Planning Committee was formed to oversee
the renovations of the house. With Steinberg and Stevens, Registered Architects, Schaefer
and Co. Construction, the Department of English, the Office of Residential Life... they
met every Tuesday at 3 pm since renovation began in May.
