Sounds of Philly

We can’t think of a better way to activate public space than with music — in particular, the in-depth catalog of Philadelphia’s musicians and artists. 

This summer, Scout, a development and design practice based in Philadelphia, turned the steps of one of their latest projects into the soundstage for Philadelphia’s musical legacy. From July 1st through September 22nd, the facade of the Village of Industry & Art, located at 320 S. Broad St, will be an open-air listening experience with sculptural speakers that play everything from soul and jazz to hip-hop and punk between the times of 11am and 1pm every day. The project was created by Scout in partnership with the Philadelphia Music Alliance and the giant, monumental speakers were fabricated by local designer Tim Gleeson.

Photo by Flaviu Costin on Unsplash

The installation celebrates the artists, organizers, and cultural workers who shape the city’s creative identity.

The takeaways? First, it’s a simple, affordable way to activate a public space — taking advantage of the tactility of sound and creating an experience focused on listening and participation, even if that participation is simply dancing along or bobbing your head while eating lunch on the entry stairs. Second, it highlights Scout’s ongoing and expansive work for the Village of Industry & Art. VIA was born out of the ashes of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts, located on a tight campus of historic John Haviland and Frank Furness buildings that in 2024, after the sudden announcement of UArts closing, became available for purchase. Placekeeping and placemaking immediately come to mind. With a deep understanding of adaptive reuse, Scout is bringing arts, culture, maker space, and artist live/work studios to the historic buildings as a means to preserve the creative history and reinvigorate the former campus with the evolving spirit of the arts.

Kudos to the team on this placemaking intervention and we can’t wait to see more out of this group.