Disambiguation - Delancey Place Neighborhood
The DeLancey Place Conservatory is located within a 19th-century mansion at 2000-08 Delancey Place in Philadelphia, incorporating the refurnished Rosenbach Museum and Library as part of the existing exhibits. As of 2428, reconstruction was underway to include 2010-2036 DeLancey Street into the single contiguous structure. The expansion to keep the facade facing Delancey Street, but expanded to a single building taking up the whole of the lots of 2010-2034. This is while maintaining the integrity of Number 2036 as VIP housing, it was restored as near to original as possible as it is the oldest of the row, yet with modern conveniences.
Constructed in 1864, first inhabited in 1865, 2000-2 Delancey Street is constructed of red brick, faced with white marble and designed as a mansion mixing Federal and Victorian styling of the second empire. The conservatory has been the home of the Delancey Foundation since 1996ce.
The DeLancey Foundation Conservatory has expanded into a spanning of the entire block with construction finished in 2428. By 2454, the complex of the Foundation was expanded to include two city blocks north, one south, and a matching footprint east. The complex includes the DFIG Amphitheatre, the Embassy of the Arts, DeLancey College of Music, and of course the DeLancey Conservatory which is also host to the offices of the Delancey Foundation. The Delancey Foundation grounds in Philadelphia occupy approximately 100,000m2. Every effort was made to maintain the historical image of the neighborhood, including maintaining the ban on motor traffic except by permit.
Staff[]
Officers[]
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Melody Morgan (Hologram) - Managing Director |
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Eileen (HPA) - Managing Director's Assistant |
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Sebastion De Vannes - Director of Preservation |
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Prof. Brian A. McKellen Director of Outreach |
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Prof. Jo Delestair Director of Volunteer Services |
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Prof. Ahmed Kontar - Director of Acquisitions |
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Prof. Susan Mallache - Director of Dept. of Music History |
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Harmony - Foundation Computer AI / Director of Information Technology |
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CPT Dahlia DeLancey, MD,Ph.D - Advising Director / Board Chair |
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Former Director, Clarence M. McNale - Advising Director's Proxy / Volunteer |
The compensated staff positions are less than a score, mostly department heads and officers. The DeLancey Foundation offers thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and students who make the day to day operation of the conservatory and our many public events possible.
When visiting the conservatory one can usually spot staff & volunteers by the glasses they wear. Our staff uses the Heads Up Display interface to keep in contact with the Harmony database, making it possible for them to quickly look up any fact with alacrity. One should never be shy about asking for help should they wish it. The Harmony database interface can also be accessed by individuals at stations all over the facility, or just by asking for a Docent. Harmony monitors the entire conservatory at all times, and provides additional services through non-sentient assistive holographics.
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Head Art Historian - Prof. Carolina Kohl |
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Head Docent/Programming Dir.- Prof. Maggie Kohl |
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Head of First Editions Collection - Ms. Tome (Photonic) |
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Conservatory Housekeeping Avatar |
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Guest Housing Housekeeping Avatar |
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Private Security Avatar |
History[]
Originally constructed to be the home of the former provost of the University of Pennsylvania, William Heathcote DeLancey for whom the neighborhood and street were named, it was never inhabited by him. Bishop Delancey passed away in Geneva, New York before the interior marble was laid in the grand entrance hall and the home presented.
The mansion totals approximately 13,640m2 floor space. The three main levels feature original oak flooring, 4.5m ceilings, with 3m mahogany framed windows. The basement level rooms are converted from utility space to specialty use areas with 3m ceilings and marble quartz composite floor tiling. A total of 16 fireplaces, most with marble and mahogany appointments are interspersed. The building had at one point as many as twelve separate indoor bath facilities.
During the 20th and much of the 21st century, the mansion was merged with the townhouse space of 2004 and converted into six condominium domiciles and a Law Office. Unit 2 was given to the Delancey family trust as well as the attached garages and common space. In the wake of the 2053 tactical neutron weapon detonation in the Naval Yard, all of Rittenhouse Square including Delancey place was largely uninhabited but for refugees.
Much of the Rittenhouse Square district structures had proven to be resilient and though most of the city south of Washington Ave. to Woodbury Heights, NJ would eventually be demolished, a great effort was made to save these 'Historic District' homes. The historic district running east through Washington Sq. and Society Hill, to Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. These sections became protected landmarks, and as such could only be restored, not altered without dispensation.
Though exact records are not found, at some point in the 2080s and 90s, an effort was made to restore most of the buildings of the 2000-2100 block of Delancey Place. One of the first historical sites to be served by historical recovery efforts in the area was the Rosenbach museum and library at 2008-10, with structural damages to 2008-2010 being corrected by returning to original building codes. Before the project was completed, an unknown contractor completed work on 2000-06 Delancey Place. Records and official documentation show the ownership of the entire building and grounds to be registered in the name of the DeLancey Foundation. The foundation eventually purchased and restored the entire block.
2100[]
The building was completely updated to ADA compliance in 2100 despite it no longer being law of the land. A wheelchair-accessible elevator is accessed through the rear of the building. A small elevator lift was stationed to rise just outside of the original structure, up the south wall with an exit on all floors including the roof for the Greenhouse and Gazebo access. The rear half of the 2004 building was gutted and became a warehouse for storage, with the third floor dedicated to family records and objects storage.
Foundation documents show the foundation to have been operating out of the offices in 2004 Delancey Place location for over a hundred years as of the time a decision was made to make building public. Previously operating as a private funder of the arts and scholarship organization. The DeLancey Foundation, also known as the 'DeLancey Foundation for the Preservation of Music and the Arts' undertook the transformation of the location into a museum and offices, which opened its doors for the first time in 2118. While the primary purpose use of the location was the amassing and preservation of a collection of rare and unique musical history artworks.
2121[]
The conservatory would formally close to the public once again in May of 2121 after an unfortunate vandalism incident resulting in fire and damage to some irreplaceable instruments. The last fully public event of that century being the second Vega Colony launch party, in which the DeLancey family and Badi clan were celebrated prior to relocating to a new homeworld. The majority of the estate's heirs took to the stars aboard the ECS Hieronymus and made Vega Colony their home, though they still maintained a connection to Earth, their history, and their legacy.
2175[]
The Delancey Foundation continued its efforts to collect and preserve object of musical art, recordings, and films as well as building a database sheet music and dance choreography. The conservatory was used as a storehouse, preservation workshop and offices.
2264[]
Brigid A. Connery, a bloodline descendant, took up residence and a seat on the board. She spearheaded the effort to once again open the conservatory to the public. Her modernization of facilities effort lead to the installation of holographic displays, and telepresence concerts to be broadcast as far away as other worlds. She believed that it was not enough to preserve the information and history, but it must be shared and made to come alive.
She also had part of the warehouse converted into a shop in which the skills of musical instrument maintenance and construction were once again being done by hand, sharing learning of with new generations.
Even though Mrs. Connery passed in 2267, what she accomplished in her short tenure endured and was built upon making hers a powerful legacy worth mentioning.
2423[]
Late in the year reconstruction of neighboring connected houses of 2004 and 2006 was begun, requiring the temporary relocation of the restoration works to other workshops in the city. Unfortunately, little but the antique fixtures and woodworks were able to be salvaged in the complete reconstruction. Ten months later when the full reconstruction was complete, it appears as if the style and appearance of the original conservatory now are extended seamlessly across the facade of the other two lots. The structures were rebuilt not only to withstand the rigors of public use expected, but greatly exceed them. The floors, walls, windows and ceilings carry through with replicated materials identical to that of the original 1864 built conservatory. The expansion of floor space is to now grant an additional 1400 square meters of floor space across four floors.
2424[]
The newly expanded basement facilities are opened for updated restoration works, expanded from two floors totaling 130 square meters of storage and workspace to a fully modernized 350 square meters of fully climate-controlled space. The storage space and rehearsal hall on the third floor were replaced. The family and foundation storage area was replaced with additional space to compensate for the larger display need. However, the multiuse rehearsal hall was expanded and is now large enough for a full orchestra. The fourth floor, which was the only area only previously to use the lower 3-meter ceiling using only half of the lot space was expanded to the entire 350 square meter floorplan. The fourth floor now houses foundation office facilities and educational space.
2425[]
April 25th, the original gallery space on the 2nd floor is cleared to provide multiuse space similar to the first floor. The gallery is relocated to the new much larger spaces of the new construction in 2004-2008 Delancey Place. The earlier rich displays are greatly enhanced by the addition of modern holographic interactives, and expanded to hundreds of displays over two floors.
The addition of the new state of the art computer, with holographic interface known as Harmony takes place on the anniversary of the birth of the founder, Ann Gale.
2426[]
New renovations are begun, converting the entire slate of row houses from 2000-2034 Delancey Street into a contiguous internal structure, maintaining the facade of the block. The additional homes of 2010-2034 would be converted and expanded so that from 2010 to 2034 would be squared off from basement to three floors to the border of Panama St, so that when the work was completed the fourteen additional structures would be an extension of the current conservatory following precise recreation of style, structure and appearance of the 1800s construction. The third floor is to be converted into living space for visiting artists and those wishing to be trained in preservation and restoration coming from other worlds.
Renovations of 2001-2003 were well underway to rebuild the structure for the Magna Roma Museum Musica et Arz, Philadelphia, the first addition to what was to become the Embassy of the Arts. The new additions will be Ambassadors of other worlds to Earth, with art displayed in holographic interactions. The curators of each new hall of the EA will be from the world featured, allowing room for visiting displays and holographic reproductions as well as telepresence and Holo-conference.
As of 2426, Dr. DeLancey still maintained her residence on the third floor of 2000-2002 for herself and family. The doctor is known to be a private individual, and the residence was not opened for tours.
2428[]
Renovations to the Delancey Conservatory were complete. The original conservatory of 2000-2006, the refurbished Rosenbach of 2008, and the large museum of 2010-2034. The separate structure of Number 2036, was restored to original plans with modern accoutrements to house visiting VIPs.
2430[]
The Delancey Foundation computing system was tripled in capacity at the urging of Harmony, as the new DFIG Archive System was brought online. With the new computing power, Harmony replaced all of the housekeeping and docent holograms with system generated avatars in on demand instances for processing efficiency.
2441[]
The nature of the work done at the Delancey Conservatory made the shut down of holographic simulations a critical blow. Working with HSI, a DFIG affiliate, Commander Ki'te, and 'Friends of the Foundation' within Starfleet, some dispensations were possible to allow limited operations to resume after only thirty days of downtime.
As a result of Zimmerman's Bill, Commander Elashia Ki'te officially tested Harmony the AI that makes the Delancey Foundation operational since 04.25.2425. Harmony was declared sentient, and the process was begun to grant her status a Photonic Citizen. Harmony is recognized, and offered position as Director of Information Technology for the Foundation.
Temporary permission to resume operations with two Photonic Citizens in operations on the site (Harmony AI & Melody Morgan), was granted with the limitations that no visiting photonic entity not already recognized as a citizen would be permitted to go online in the local computer network.
2444[]
Full scale operations including visiting Photonic Sentient entities were permitted and the operations expanded to include Holo-conference visitors from as far away as Titan on a regular basis.
The sudden and unexpected death of the Director of Music History Catherine I. Morgan resulted in a 14 day full shut down to outside interaction. The pall that had fallen across the Foundation effected everyone, including Harmony and Melody Morgan.
2452[]
Managing Director Clarence M. McNale stepped down, retiring after fifty eight years of service in that position. After six years of quietly grooming her for the position, he arranged a private vote with the Board of Directors, and convinced them to accept Melody Morgan as his replacement. This made the Delancey Foundation possibly the first prominent Earth based organization that has placed a Photonic Entity in such a high position.
Decorative arts collections[]
Original Canvases[]
Sculpture[]
Tapestries and Wall Hangings[]
Rare books and manuscripts[]
Musical Instruments[]
Antique Furniture[]
The Rooms[]
Entry Hall[]
Inside the ornate double mahogany door entry, first is the vestibule, a standard method of creating a dead space of air, to save heat and not allow wind unwanted to wash into the home. The floor and baseboard are both marble quarried from nearby Maryland and share qualities and history with the monuments of the former national capital Washington DC. Stepping through the second of the double doors stands the grand entry hall, which spans just over three meters and extends through to the rear entrance of the building. At the far end, to the right is the rear single door width vestibule and to the left is the grand staircase. Unlike many mansions of the day, this is wide but in Federal style, a straight stair that doubles back and climbs all the way to the top floor.
Each stair is original oak placed in 1834, with an oak hand carved handrail with spindle risers at each step The baseboard is white marble for the length, while the floor is a black and white checkerboard pattern of 45.7cm squares set at a diamond pattern formation across the width of the floor.
Original gaslight sconces and chandelier remain, though have been converted to modern lighting standards.
The doors to the left, lead to the Library, with the Parlor to the rear entered only from the Library. The doors to the right enter the Banquet Hall.
Gallery[]
The Gallery is located on the second floor west and is connected to the Piano suite via the Looking Glass Hall. The room spans to the west wall of 2002, and was structurally reinforced via oak pillars spaced along the center of the building. Alon walls 1.2 meters in height provide a safety barrier surrounding the central stair but yet allow for sound to flow from the Piano Suite into the Gallery and throughout the Conservatory. The Gallery is host to 78 original paintings and tapestries all holding a common thread in their heart, music.
The Gallery was updated to full modern holographic capabilities in 2425 to allow for holo-presence as well as free movement of holographic docents who may aid curious visitors, and is often used for celebrations such as Twelfth Night.
Exhibit Hall[]
From 2423 to 2425 reconstruction of the neighboring four-story townhouses addressed 2004 and 2006 were to become an expansion of the gallery on the first, and second floors. The total floor space for the museum displays was increased nearly eight times, allowing for many more interesting displays of music and poetry throughout the history of Earth. The improvement of the holographic systems also allows for holographic interactive displays, and several holographic docents to provide assistance to curious visitors. There are as well exhibited examples of rare and beautiful musical instruments, all hand-made and original, with no reproductions.
Among the more rare, a Stradivarius Violin, labeled "Antonius Stradiuarius Cremonefis Faceibat Anno 1718", a Ruggieri Cello, labeled "Francesco Ruggieri detto il per Cremona 1676, and a Lupot Violin labeled "Nicolas Lupot Luthier rud de Grammont a Paris l'an 1779"
There are more than 400 precious musical instruments on display, including viola, mandolin, banjo, guitars, dobro, ukulele, clarinet, French horn, saxophones, trumpets, flutes and fifes, drums, electric guitars, bass, and several other unique instruments. A holographic reproduction of the Armonica, or glass harmonica, invented by Philadelphia's own Benjamin Franklin is on display, though only two were known to exist and neither survives, this is believed to be the truest replica. Several of the only known recordings of this instrument may be requested to be played on site.
Grand Exhibit Hall[]
With the reconstruction of Numbers 2010-2034, a Grand Exhibit hall was created to provide 310,000m3 over two floors of the structure, much of it open for the full 10 meter height. The fully updated holographic presentation systems allow for reconfiguration of the hall to multiple programs. The artwork and presentations are stored in a digital archive to protect them from damage when not on display.
Kitchens[]
The Kitchen facilities are unfortunately not original but were rebuilt and maintained in order to provide both replicated and freshly cooked meals to the banquet facilities. The large kitchen is up to the restaurant standard as of 2424. Though it is rarely used but for a special dish or service. Service is provided through a dumbwaiter system first installed in 1864, but updated to the modern standards.
Library[]
The Library, which has a majority of books of music, or about music history, musicians and their many stories. A collection of first editions is viewable but is protected behind an Alon shield.
Parlor[]
The Parlor, which was once described as a smoking parlor in the Victorian era is a relaxing reading room filled with furniture from 1800s America.
Looking Glass Hall[]
Looking Glass Hall is entered at either end from the east and contains two identical mirrors standing three meters in height, and two meters width, and stands ten meters apart. The frames are sterling silver antiques of the American early 1800s, the silver-backed glass is original. These mirrors are angled so that when standing between them, the reflections double repeatedly, seeming to do so off into infinity.
Banquet Hall[]
The Banquet hall a large area capable of seating 48 guests at large round tables, or when used for a recital, capacity is 104 with a staging area near the front. The hall, which spans nearly half of the original 2000 Delancey Place, spans to the west side of 2002. The original oak hardwood floor was replaced by reclaimed oak from the original structure on two floors and reconfigured to maintain authenticity throughout this lovely hall, framed with large windows at either end and featuring three original wood-burning fireplaces. A second entrance may be found at the south end of the room but is a simple door, not a grand entryway.
The Banquet Hall was updated in 2269 to include holographic projectors, capable of presenting both live and recorded holographic entertainment. The projectors can create the illusion of additional occupants, as well as performers. Paired with the 500.10 speaker sound system to allow full surround experience, the reproduction is considered to be exemplary.
In 2414, the entertainment system computer was updated to allow for compatibility to use the holographic entertainment programs designed for more modern emitters, though most of the room still lacks the force field emitters, the stage area is now able to be used to host live holo-presence concerts.
The Grant Bedroom[]
The southern facing bedroom of the east side of the house, this is decorated using antiques to replicate a drawing made of this same bed-chamber from its first iteration. Though renovations had been made several times, it is believed to be authentic to the original layout and conditions. Records show that during several stays in Philadelphia, then-nominee for President Ulysses S. Grant did stay with compliments of the Delancey family as support to his presidential bid.
Bishop's Study[]
Eastern facing between the ensuite period baths of the Grant Bedroom and the Bishop's Bedchamber lays the Bishop's Study. A tastefully decorated period chamber which was designated to be a private study for the Bishop and his secretary. Thought to be more intended for private entertaining with family.
While this room was never visited by the Bishop in his lifetime, many of the artifacts with the chamber are indeed collected from his private possession in years following his death
The Bishop's Bedchamber[]
The northern facing bedroom of the east side of the house is decorated using antiques to replicate the planned layout of the bedroom which was to be occupied by Bishop William Heathcote DeLancey. While the Bishop had never actually slept in this room, as the home was not completed until after his death, the bed-chamber design was approved by him. Every article used is authentic to the time period and antique, many of the articles including the dressing stand, the armoire, and night tables were once the property of the late Bishop.
The Piano Suite[]
Standing between the east and west sides of the great house, and with the suite opens to the grand staircase and the Gallery via the pillar wall, the Piano suite stands host to an 1889 New York built Steinway D-274 concert grand piano, as well as seating for a string quartet. The acoustics of this centrally located position, allow for music played from this position to be heard clearly throughout the building, but for the basement levels. The D-274 dominates the space that once stood as the family room of one of the condominiums. However, during the renovations for the Delancey Place Conservatory, this room was built with reinforced flooring and acoustical panels to enhance the performances given upon it.
The suite also boasts holographic quality cameras and audio recording pickups, so that any presentation may be recorded and reproduced with absolute fidelity. Along with the gallery this space was updated to full modern holographic capabilities in 2425 to allow for holo-presence as well as free movement of holographic docents who may aid curious visitors and visual display experience.
Recording Studio[]
Within the basement, in the space that was in the days of the 19th century a coal-burning furnace and boiler room, and coal fuel storage area rests a recording studio. The majority of the equipment replaced by modern era gear, there does still exist a 1970 manufactured soundboard and reel to reel recording station.
The 'live room' has the capacity for an eight-piece band. A classic American drum set is the only permanent adornment, though two soft cushioned couches and dozens of large cushions are present as well. There is also a rack of folding chairs and music stands.
Music Archive[]
Also referred to as 'The Vault'
Sheet Music Archive[]
Vinyl Pressed[]
Reel to Reel[]
Optical Disc[]
Optical Crystal[]
Foundation Offices[]
The fourth floor of the expanded Conservatory (numbers 2010-2034) have been converted into a 4,500m2 facility for the operations and offices of the Delancey Foundation on Earth.
Visitor Quartering[]
The third floor of the expanded Conservatory (numbers 2010-2034) have been converted into a 4,500m2 housing facility to operate as dorms, dining hall and gathering space for visiting individuals from other worlds to learn from the Delancey Foundation, our skills of preservation and restoration. This facility is intended to house those partners who will receive training and aid as their worlds join the Embassy of the Arts.
VIP Housing[]
2036 Delancey Street has been fully restored to the appearance it held when constructed. Hidden modern amenities and services are installed to allow for 5 VIP suites, gathering and dining hall.
Expanded Preservation Facilities[]
Post expansion of the Conservatory in 2425-28, the basement level Art/Instrument Preservation facilities were moved to a new 4,800m2 state of the art facility.
Personal Living Quarters[]
The third floor and rooftop greenhouse are private access only, and not open to the public. The open floor plan contains approximately 400m2 of living space, including 3 baths, three bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining, and library sitting rooms, all updated to modern conveniences.
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Tourism[]
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Disclaimer: While all information held within is of a real place, and real items, this is a depiction of a place nearly half a millennia in the future, and should not be considered as an attempt to depict current standing in the 21st century. Nor should it be seen as an attempt to claim ownership over any of the objects or locations depicted, all rights are reserved to their owners and not challenged.