Forman Arts Initiative

Meet Building 2.

Originally part of the PECO generating station, the building was sold to Grunewald's Brewing in 1934, then Esslinger's Brewing in 1935. Nearly a century later, After Midnight Brewing tried to bring that energy back — setting up a brewery and game café in the basement in 2020.

In between, it survived a five-alarm fire in 1964. Before FAI, it was home to a martial arts studio, a hair salon, a karaoke bar, and a daycare.

A building shaped by reinvention, community, and many past lives is now beginning another.

Image Descriptions

Slide 1: Current exterior of Building 2
Slide 2: Five-alarm fire at 2205 N. American Street, May 31, 1964, Courtesy of Philadelphia Fire Department History
Side 3: Construction In Building 2

On Friday, over breakfast AND lunch, the Art Works: Kensington 250 Selection Committee sat down to review the finalists.

184 applications narrowed to 25, and every single one reflected the extraordinary depth of talent rooted here in Kensington.

↳ Not pictured but there in spirit: Luis Cruz and Roberto Lugo 💫

Finalists announcement coming soon. Stay close.

Something is happening on N. American street.

Across three buildings each with a deep history of their own, we'll share what came before, what remains, and what we're building together.

Stay close 2027 is coming.

Image: Corner of Forman Arts Initiative campus at 2201 N. American Street, Kensington, Philadelphia.