The Porch at 30th Street Station is a public space in Philadelphia that was created from underutilized land and parking spaces. The University City District, a partnership that improves economic vitality and quality of life in West Philadelphia, carefully planned the effort.

More than twenty-five May Filius umbrellas were used to create an inviting and vibrant atmosphere that helped revolutionize the space.

At the end of the project, University City District and Interface Studio performed a six-month site usage study which revealed that shade was integral in how patrons engaged with The Porch and particularly as temperatures increased.

The conclusion – sophisticated shade matters.  Shade can transform underutilized space into a thriving community hub!

The Porch: 5 Years, 5 Lessons

Lesson 1: First, make friends.  Then, make great public space

Lesson 2: Every desert needs an oasis.

Lesson 3: Launch. Test. Measure. Fail. Tinker. Succeed. Repeat.

Lesson 4: The end is just the beginning (and maybe even life changing).

Lesson 5: Imitation is the best form of flattery.

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