Nowhere else in the world is there a setting that marries fountains, theater, and garden, establishing the Longwood Garden Main Fountain Garden as the finest performance fountain in the world. After a three-year renovation by an all-star-cast of designers, this legendary space reopened to the public in the summer of 2017. The ICAA Philadelphia Chapter is pleased to offer a private tour of the new Main Fountain Garden, led by Miriam Kelly, Senior Associate at Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB), who designed a major rehabilitation for the 80 year-old complex, which had been chronically compromised by numerous mechanical problems and aging infrastructure. Guests will also be given access to the pumphouse plaza, lobby, and tunnels―areas typically not made available to the public.
The tour will begin at 5:30PM and will offer guests the full context of the renovation project, covering such topics as stone restoration, horticulture, the innovation behind the new fountains, the inclusion of the grotto, and a rare peek into the tunnel infrastructure. Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy the gardens—tickets include admission to Longwood’s celebrated fountain performance once the sun sets.
Miriam Kelly is a British Architect experienced in the repair and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. In 2006, she won the prestigious Lethaby Scholarship with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and has since joined the UK’s Register for Architects Accredited in Building Conservation. She holds two Masters Degrees in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. Before moving to the United States, Miriam worked at some of the most sensitive historic sites in the UK including Windsor Castle, the Royal Pavilion Estate, Lowther Castle and Bath Abbey.
2 AIA LU credits will be available for this lecture. Please bring your AIA membership number in order to fill out the necessary paperwork.