Up until its abrupt closure last year, the now defunct University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia was an active contributor to the design scene in Pennsylvania and beyond. The news of UArtss sudden closure was announced in May 2024, shortly after the Middle States Commission on Higher Education elected to withdraw its accreditation; it came as a shock to students, faculty, and staff. Without anyone to occupy the Center City campus, the vacant buildings represent a legacy of what once was. That is, until recently. Last week, Scout, a women-owned development and design company based in Philadelphia, successfully acquired the historic Hamilton and Furness buildings on the Avenue of the Arts with a winning bid of $12.25 million, $250,000 more than its original bid. The acquisition is the result of community support, local advocacy, and the leadership of both local and state politicians who have lent their support to the cause.Hamilton and Furness Hall have stood in the Central City of Philadelphia since UArts, then called the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, was founded in 1876. Over a century later, both buildings were transferred to the school for just $1 as part of a 1994 sale.Hamilton Hall, used by UArts as an academic space, is a Greek Revival building designed by John Haviland and built in 1826 with additional wings added by William Strickland and Frank Furness in 1838 and 1893 respectively. It is considered the oldest extant building located on Broad Street. Furness Hall was designed as a dormitory by Frank Furness in 1875. It also served as a residence hall on the UArts campus, with spaces for students to study, socialize, and live during their time at the university.Scouts plan for the reuse of the former UArts buildings closely resembles the firms work on Bok, a local project that transformed a shuttered 340,000-square-foot vocational high school into workspaces for Philadelphia makers, businesses, nonprofits, and artists. Though Scout will be working with a smaller footprint, the programming remains similar: preserving existing workspaces as studios for artists, small businesses, and other craftspeople. Additionally, the dorms will be converted into subsidized housing for artists with a residency program.The arts are a critical force in every citybringing creativity, resilience, and joy. Artists help us all to understand and reflect on hardship, trauma, and hope in new ways, Scout shared in a press statement. They challenge us to see the world differently, to push boundaries, and to imagine new possibilities. These buildings, steeped in history and culture, will continue to be spaces where artists and makers thrive, ensuring that Philadelphia remains a vibrant and innovative center for creativity.Todays colleges and universities serve as a connective, cultural tissue for the communities they inhabit, with a reach that goes beyond the boundaries of their campus. Scout, the only arts-focused organization to bid on the property, represents a commitment to maintaining the cultural development and impact of the Avenue of the Arts for years to come.When AN reported the news of UArtss closure back in June 2024, the future of its campus buildings was uncertain. With four residence halls, six academic buildings, 10 performance venues, and 12 gallery spaces, the former UArts campus has a lot to offer the community. At the time of writing, five of the nine available buildings have been awarded to the highest bidder in Delawares U.S. Bankruptcy Court.