An independent Catholic high school for students of all faiths
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Size
105,000 sq. ft.
Services
Architecture, Comprehensive Planning, Interior Design
By his own account, John McConnell was one of the lucky ones. A longtime partner at Deloitte, a native Philadelphian, and a proud alum of its schools, John was nearing retirement in 2010 – and searching for a cause that might help spread the wealth around his beloved city.
In response, McConnell partnered with Blackney Hayes to renovate a 5-acre site, located at 17th and Allegheny Avenue, that included an abandoned 5-story, 55,000 sq. ft. heavy timber and masonry warehouse building and an adjacent open field.
The design team spent months soliciting wide-ranging community input – from the staff to the parents to the kids themselves. They repurposed the original wood beams and flooring from the warehouse. And they designed a 48,000 sq. ft. addition to the warehouse for additional classroom spaces, a gymnasium, a health center, a new athletic field, and outdoor instructional and gathering spaces.
