Germantown High School

SERVICES: Architecture, Master Planning, & Community Engagement

CLIENT: Eli Alon

LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA

STATUS: Plan Adopted

YEARS: 2019

Germantown High, along with the Fulton School, includes 593,000 sq ft of space on 9.5 acres. After the complex sat vacant for seven years, it was purchased by a private developer for conversion to new uses. Woodcock Design, Inc. along with Ray Rola, Architect worked with the community to develop a plan to convert the abandon space into a mixed-use facility.

The community reaction to at firsts was skeptical, if not hostile, as the historic school held many memories cherished by the community. The design team gathered ideas, received input, and developed a master plan that ultimately responded to the communities needs.

The final plan features apartments and live-work units on the upper floors. At ground level, the main lawn has been preserved. The interior features studios for small business and artists, grouped around a fabrication space and gallery. An iconic auditorium and a gymnasium reserved for community use. The Master Plan resulted in community acceptance has been used to guide design and construction, which is underway.