[8] In November 1886, the first local group of University of Pennsylvania alumni outside of Philadelphia was formed in New York over dinner at Delmonico's Restaurant.
At the alumni group's annual banquet at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1900, they presented a plan to secure "a convenient suite of rooms in the middle of the city, adjacent to a cafe."
On October 6, 1900, the Penn Club of New York opened in four groundfloor rooms in the Royalton Hotel, just 200 feet (61 m) next door to today's clubhouse.
In 1905, the Club moved to "new and commodious quarters" in Hotel Stanley at 124 West 47th Street, where it remained until 1910.
In 1922, after a three-year search, the club's directors leased two townhouses on East 50th Street, next to today's New York Palace Hotel.
[18][19] After raising an additional $25 million from 50 alumni (including $150,000+ donations each from Estee Lauder heirs Leonard Lauder and Ronald Lauder, billionaire Saul Steinberg, Milken Institute founder Michael Milken, and Ronald Perelman[20]) to commission David P. Helpern Architects for two years of renovation including a three-level addition for its current 14-story building, the Penn Club Of New York moved to its current location on West 44th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, opening its owned-doors to annual dues-paying members in 1994.
[20] 30 West 44th Street was the first university clubhouse in New York City to be designed as a high-rise structure.
[26] All dues-paying members have access to the high-rise, 14-story clubhouse, including its Benjamin Franklin Room (named after the university's founder), featuring a 24/7 private library for book loans,[27] piano, fireplace, and paintings of former Penn leaders such as Franklin on oak-paneled walls.
[28] Penn Club has a members-only website and app directory, with committees for member networking.
[36] A Penn Club spokesperson said 30 West 44th Street was selected for its proximity to Manhattan's Theater District, Grand Central Terminal, and other alumni clubhouses.