Charles E. Broudy, 79; was an architect and designer

Charles E. Broudy, 79, of Penn Valley, an architect who created innovative designs for stores, died of complications from cancer Tuesday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Broudy established design images for numerous retailers including the Gap and Ann Taylor, and shops in 25 museums. He transformed a former funeral parlor for Boyd's, the upscale men's store in Philadelphia; and designed new storefronts for two blocks of Chestnut Street.

To create signage for the Reading Terminal Market several years ago, he pored over old photographs, interviewed merchants and customers, and spent months studying the exterior of the market from every angle. He told a reporter in 2000 that he hoped the marquee and the metal signs in the shape of farm animals he designed would be as "memorable as Wanamaker's eagle."

Mr. Broudy held three patents for systems to facilitate merchandising, including a "pants wheel." Early in his career, he designed a World's Fair pavilion for IBM and three U.S. International Trade Fair buildings.

He lectured at Harvard and Drexel Universities and other institutions and was the coauthor of three books on retail design.

A graduate of West Philadelphia High School, Mr. Broudy worked as a draftsman while earning a degree in architecture from Drexel University. In 1992, he was named to the "Drexel 100" distinguished graduates.

During the Korean War, he served in the Army in Germany. After his discharge, he was with several architectural firms before establishing Charles E. Broudy & Associates in 1959. The architectural and planning firm specializes in merchandising facilities. It merged with SPG3 Architects in 2002.

Since 1965, Mr. Broudy had been married to Judith Snyder Broudy. Unlike many husbands, she said, he was happy to visit shops on their frequent trips abroad and photographed interesting store displays. He loved fine food and wine, she said, and was a talented water colorist.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Broudy is survived by sons Joshua and Matthew, a brother, and a sister.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Joseph Levine and Sons Memorial Chapel, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Trevose.