News

Blackney Hayes Architects, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm, is pleased to announce that their project, AIM~Academy In Manayunk, has opened. A school for bright children in grades 1-12 with learning differences, AIM~Academy in Manayunk is now located in Conshohocken in the former River Park 2 office complex.

“The space lent itself well to AIM’s diverse and specialized program,” said Jennifer Crawford, Blackney Hayes principal. “The previous office space is now a tailored educational environment in which AIM’s extraordinary students can thrive.”
Originally an 18th century paper mill, the buildings at 1200 River Road were converted to office space by Blackney Hayes in 1999. When AIM considered relocating from its Manayunk location, Blackney Hayes was able to recommend the space, which had been vacated in 2010. The firm’s familiarity with the building systems streamlined further conversion to a school. Opening on Jan 3, the 63,500 sf building allows AIM to consolidate its previous two locations under one roof, with room to expand in the future.

“Blackney Hayes understood intuitively what kind of learning spaces we needed for our 165 students on our way to expanding to 250 students,” said Patricia Roberts, AIM Executive Director. “We incorporate an arts-based learning environment with rigorous academics while addressing the individual learning styles of students with dyslexia,dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other learning differences. It was a tall order to create a 21st century learning environment for our talented students, but the architect ably designed a facility that meets our program.”

The facility contains nontraditional classrooms for collaborative learning, an arts and music wing, cafeteria, and state-of-the-art global resource center with state of the art technology. The interior design includes carpet with 65% recycled content, light fixtures reused from the existing building, and natural light in most of the occupied spaces. Walls and floors are covered with bright, warm shades of green, yellow and orange. Some of the furniture was repurposed, with a portion coming from a pharmaceutical company that had recently closed and some from the existing school. The AIM Institute for Learning and Research is housed in the separate professional development wing of the building with multiple hi-tech training rooms. A soccer field and gymnasium / performing arts center are planned for Phase 2.

“The project highlights the existing architecture of the old mill building,” said Crawford. “We designed it with the sustainable strategy of repurposing the existing building for the second time and using as much of the existing materials as possible.”

Founded in 2006, AIM is modeled after the successful Blue Ribbon program created by The Lab School of Washington. Its arts-based focus, in tandem with research-based teaching instruction, prepares students for college, careers, and long-term, sustainable accomplishment. AIM’s university partnerships with Temple, Saint Joseph’s University, Cabrini Colllege, West Chester University, and Thomas Jefferson University bring significant opportunities to AIM students. AIM’s Teacher Training Institute has drawn from as far away as Australia and South Africa and has graduated over 1500 educators.