Trustees allow razing of additional buildings

University Trustees passed a resolution which could give the University leeway to tear down more than one building to build a new science institute, several city preservationists said yesterday. But Vice Provost for Research Barry Cooperman said the University plans to raze only Smith Hall and an annex to the Morgan and Music buildings, built in the 1960s, to build the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology. The resolution says that the center will require " . . . demolishing at least one building." The University is currently embroiled in a legal battle with preservationists, who have appealed a September Board of Licenses and Inspections decision which gave administrators the go-ahead to demolish Smith Hall. Gray Smith, a member of the Preservation Coalition for Greater Philadelphia, said he believes it is "very likely" the University will tear down or significantly alter the Morgan and Music buildings, which are located across from Smith Hall. "[The University's] track record for preserving historic buildings is poor," Smith said. "It is certainly very likely [that the University will tear down more than Smith Hall] looking at the documents I have seen." "The goals of the institution don't fit into the envelope they have created for themselves," Smith added. Cooperman said the University has "no plans" to tear down the Morgan or Music buildings, though demolishing a recent addition to the two buildings and constructing a new annex is part of the plans. But the Vice Provost left the issue somewhat open, saying the plans may change but "they almost certainly will not." Building the institute on the tennis courts in front of the Palestra, which Smith said is his preferred option, would cut down on the amount of open space on campus, Cooperman said. "We think that a proper mix of open and constructed spaces is desirable," Cooperman said. "The current plans for Smith will maintain that balance." "It would be wonderful if we had many wide open spaces," Cooperman said. "We are constrained as an urban university." The most recent set of plans for the building will likely be released before the end of the semester, Cooperman said. Both Smith and Howard Kittell, another member of the preservation coalition, said that it was their understanding that the University made a committment to the city historic commission not to tear down the Morgan and Music buildings. Smith said he would not be surprised if, sometime in the future, the University broke the informal agreement to preserve the building. "I am not convinced, given some of the weasel words that have come out of the mouths of the University and their consultants," Smith said. Kittell agreed that for the University to tear down the Morgan and Music buildings, administrators would have to break a promise. "[If the University tears down buildings other than Smith Hall] they are reneging on a promise . . . and certainly recasts the argument for why they should build the building on the site of Smith Hall," Kittell said. The legal proceedings which will allow the University to demolish Smith Hall are continuing. General Counsel Shelley Green said the University is waiting for the Board of Licenses and Inspections to certify the record for the court which will hear the appeal. The court should then set a hearing date, but Green said she could not predict when that would be. She added that the University is trying to meet the federal requirements to demolish a historic building.

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