Comcast Art Walls - Kelly Maiello Architects

Client

Comcast

Category

Commercial

The 2,100-square-foot venue is located at the bottom of the grand staircase connecting the Winter Garden on the main level to the lower level concourse leading to the food court. It’s become a convenient amenity to many for phone charging, grabbing something to eat or meeting up with friends. The Art Walls, which are formed by a combination of curved and flat walls surrounding the seating areas, feature a montage of historic photographs of Philadelphia. New lighting makes the images pop, and sheltered counter seating areas provide semi-private spaces for laptop use or phone calls.

Two people sit and talk at a table in a modern lobby area with orange tabletops and a black-and-white mural, showcasing striking interior design. Another person sits alone in the background. The bright space features overhead lighting.

Comcast Art Walls Photo Sources

In developing the graphics for the Art Walls, we turned to Getty Images’ online collection for source material and sorted by Philadelphia at the street level and across time. We focused on images that reflected the city’s strengths: markets, parks, neighborhoods and history. It was important that the richness of its people and architecture be expressed.

A grid of 12 photos shows civic city life: markets with produce and flowers, parks with trees and people, neighborhood streets with row houses, and historic black-and-white images of children and old streets.

The Art Wall Stories

The montages are arranged as a continuous strip with one merging into the next, starting in black and white, transitioning to color then finishing in black and white. The color images are installed on curved walls that define the table seating areas, reinforcing the curve of the grand stair with the black and white images are installed at the counter seating areas.

A collage of cityscapes combining black-and-white and color scenes, highlighting urban streets, people walking, fountains, markets, and trees—labeled Full Photo Strip, West Concourse, and East Concourse—offers educational insights for interior design inspiration.

The Art Wall Murals

Four wall murals in seating areas showcase black-and-white and color photos of Philadelphia city street scenes with people, trees, and buildings—bringing a touch of interior design and historic preservation to each West/East Counter or Table Seating section.

Art Walls East Table Seating: Before and After

Before-and-after image of a hallway mural installation: the left shows plain walls before, while the right, reimagined by an architect, features scenic art and people at tables, blending interior design with a welcoming atmosphere.

Art Walls East Table and Counter Seating: Before and After

A collage shows a public space in Philadelphia before and after a mural installation. Left: empty area with tables and escalator. Right: people, guided by an architect's vision, gather in a lively, transformed space with a large wall mural.

Art Walls West Table Seating: Before and After

Side-by-side comparison of a lobby area before and after a mural installation. The final image highlights a civic transformation, with people enjoying the space beside a large, scenic wall mural.

Art Walls West Table and Counter Seating: Before and After

A before-and-after comparison shows a bland hallway and seating area in Philadelphia transformed with a colorful mural, seating updates, and people dining in the renovated, modern space. Signs for escalator, restrooms, and elevator hang above.