Editing Frank Furness (section)

== Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ==

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1871-76), designed in partnership with George Hewitt, established Furness as an architect of major significance. The building's polychrome facade—brick, stone, and terra cotta in striking patterns—creates a composition of controlled energy. The oversized entrance, with its muscular columns and dense ornament, announces a building of ambition and intensity. Gothic, classical, and industrial motifs combine in ways that generate visual excitement from their very incongruity. The interior continues these themes, with elaborate iron stairs, richly decorated galleries, and spaces that prepare visitors for artistic encounter.<ref name="thomas"/>

The Academy brought Furness national attention and established his reputation for buildings of original character. Critics recognized the design's power while struggling to categorize its style. The building's influence extended through visitors who encountered Furness's work, including the young Louis Sullivan, who briefly worked in Furness's office and absorbed lessons that would shape Chicago School architecture. The Academy's survival and restoration ensure continued appreciation of Furness's early masterwork.<ref name="lewis"/>