Editing Carpenters Hall (section)

== The Carpenters' Company ==

The Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia was established in 1724 as a guild and professional organization for master builders and architects. Modeled on similar organizations in London, the Company sought to establish standards for construction, provide mutual aid to members and their families, and maintain a library of architectural books and plans. Members included many of the leading builders of colonial Philadelphia, and the Company's influence shaped the city's architectural development. The decision to construct a permanent meeting hall in the late 1760s reflected the Company's prosperity and its desire for a dignified space in which to conduct business and host meetings.<ref name="moss">{{cite book |last=Moss |first=Roger W. |title=Historic Houses of Philadelphia |year=1998 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

Construction of Carpenters' Hall began in 1770 under the direction of Robert Smith, a leading Philadelphia architect and member of the Company. Smith designed a Georgian-style building featuring a cruciform plan (cross-shaped), red brick walls, a cupola atop the roof, and elegant interior woodwork showcasing the skills of the Company's members. The building served multiple purposes from its completion: the first floor housed the Company's meeting room and a public space available for rent, while the second floor contained the Company's library of architectural books. This combination of private guild functions and public rental space would prove consequential when delegates arrived seeking a venue for the Continental Congress.<ref name="gallery">{{cite book |last=Gallery |first=John Andrew |title=Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide to the City |year=1994 |publisher=Foundation for Architecture |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>