Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but today it stands in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cell blocks and empty guard towers. Its vaulted skylit cells once held many of America’s most notorious law breakers including “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone. We worked with Eastern State to develop a comprehensive master plan for the institution.

Atkin Olsin Shade was the architect, Interpretive Solutions provided interpretive planning. The budget for new work is $16,000,000. This expansive project covers 11 acres, an entire city block. The first phase of the plan, a new visitor center, is moving ahead.