Old-School Structure, New-School Promise
With so many different seating setups, students can collaborate, chat, or simply chill between classes.
It’s really satisfying to watch an old building gain new life, especially when its new purpose is to support and empower local youth. Such was the case for the YouthBuild Charter School’s new home in north Philadelphia. Architects Aktin Olshin Schade (AOS) commissioned me to photograph the completed structure with help from constructor P. Agnes , project manager Aegis , and lighting designer Beam Ltd.
Last spring, we highlighted some of the amenity improvements we’ve seen in offices since the pandemic. This month, we’re spotlighting—pun intended—the aesthetic and design touches that make office spaces brighter, warmer, and better to work in.
Before: YouthBuild Philly’s new home stands proudly on Broad Street. This Google Maps image from 2022 shows the building prior to its 2024 makeover
After: YouthBuild Philly’s new home stands proudly on Broad Street.
Originally constructed to sell appliances for the Philadelphia Electric Company, the three-story structure saw a variety of uses before YouthBuild chose it for its strong “shell” and proximity to public transportation. The fully gutted interior allowed for the addition of a third floor and a new multi-level common area for informal gathering between classes—not unlike a similar space I photographed at the University of Pennsylvania.
The nearly 100-year-old terrazzo floor has been restored to give the main commons a fun pop of color.
To show off all the ways students can use the new common space, Benson Photo employed some post-production magic. We photographed students as they explored the new seating areas and combined the resulting frames to create final images full of activity.
Spacious new classrooms create dedicated spaces for all of YouthBuild’s services, such as the career exploration and application course taught here.
YouthBuild helps young adults (ages 17 to 20) who have had difficulties beginning their careers without a high school diploma by providing holistic support in addition to academic essentials and vocational training. With so much more space, the renovation includes dedicated hands-on learning spaces for all of YouthBuild’s disciplines. Aspiring chefs can test recipes in the massive kitchen, and even the green utility infrastructure was built to be accessible to construction students learning to assess a building’s energy consumption.
While field trips and site visits are fun, an on-site kitchen lets culinary arts students practice and improve their skills more regularly.
A solar panel would be hard to fit into a traditional classroom setup. Now, aspiring technicians can gain firsthand experience with the tools and equipment they’ll eventually use on the job.
It was rewarding to interact with the young people whose futures will be brightened by the increased opportunities available to them at this new facility. In fact, the building itself is an example of the positive impact YouthBuild has already made in the Philadelphia community. While researching this project, we learned that a YouthBuild Philly alum was directly involved in its design: Fils Iragena, who is pursuing a career in architecture after graduating in 2020, interned with AOS as the firm was developing plans for the new building. We hope that YouthBuild’s new home generates opportunities like this for years to come!
Twilight gives the façade’s lights an ethereal glow—a hint at the bright minds and futures growing inside.