Design Profile: Youthbuild Philadelphia

YouthBuild Philadelphia, a transformative alternative educational model, serves 270-plus young adults who have been previously disengaged from the public high school system. YouthBuild’s old facility did not meet the organization’s needs due to space limitations and its location on the upper floors of an office building. Originally constructed in 1930, the new space once served as a Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) showroom and North Philadelphia district office. The adaptive reuse of this historic building transforms a neglected piece of the city’s architectural history into a vibrant, uplifting space that fosters education and community for Philadelphia students. The new facility features dedicated training spaces for each of the school’s workforce development programs, 12 classrooms, administrative offices, and an inviting entrance with a central tiered seating element and staircase leading to a new mezzanine.

Designed to reflect the school’s core values of Respect, Excellence, and Perseverance, the entrance offers a warm, welcoming, and safe space for students. The original terrazzo flooring was carefully repaired and refinished, while the historic bronze façade was preserved where possible and updated with new aluminum. A new third floor addition was built, providing a large multipurpose room, a food service space, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Broad Street. This terrace provides space for outdoor learning, student gathering, and sustainability education. 

Project: YouthBuild HQ 

Location: North Philadelphia 

Client: YouthBuild Philadelphia 

Project Size: 34,000 square feet  

Project Team:  

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects (Architecture) 

Mark Ulrick Engineers (MEP/FP Engineering)  

Larsen & Landis (Structural Engineering) 

BEAM (Lighting Design) 

Acentech (AV/IT) 

Bohler (Civil Engineering)  

GeoStructures (Geotechnical Engineering) 

International Consultants, Inc. (Cost Estimator) 

Aegis (Owner’s Representative) 

P. Agnes (Construction Management) 

PHOTOS: GREG BENSON