David Rittenhouse Laboratory

The David Rittenhouse Laboratory is an academic and research building at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. The building is named for David Rittenhouse, a notable American astronomer and Penn professor of the 18th century and the president of the American Philosophical Society (he succeeded Franklin in this position).

"DRL", as it is known by students, is the home of two departments of the University of Pennsylvania: the Physics and Astronomy Department and the Mathematics Department. Many other disciplines also hold classes in the building due to its ample supply of lecture space. Because of this, the building is one of the most heavily used at the University.

The three-story portion of the building was constructed in 1954. The four-story addition was built in 1967. Partial funding for the building came from the General Authority of Pennsylvania. The architect for the original structure was James R. Edmonds, Jr. The addition was designed by Van Alan. One can easily note stylistic differences between the two parts of the structure. For example, the windows of the 1967 section are fashioned in the shape of the rounded-edge television monitors of the time.

The Edmonds building was the first modernist building on campus and its design is presently held in low esteem. Given Penn's enormous growth over the last 50 years, and its ceaseless experimentation with new architectural forms by world famous architects, this is not surprising. However, the forthcoming Shoemaker Park, surrounded by the monumental Palestra, the high brick arches of Franklin Field, the rich and elegant Skirkanich Hall and DRL will permit a reassessment of each. DRL may not be so bad a building after all.