The Story Behind Philly School Buildings
Hidden City shares the architectural background for public schools.
The look for many school buildings within the School District of Philadelphia is strikingly similar look. Sure each school possesses its own individuality, but the size, shape and feel to many buildings contain familiar patterns.
In a recent article, Hidden City Philadelphia outlines how Irwin T. Catharine standardized the designs for nearly all school constructions in the period prior to World War I. The concrete and steel-framed structures still stand today and many are based on the standardized blueprints developed by Catharine.
Click here to read the article.
View some pictures of local schools by clicking through the gallery. Featured schools include Roxborough High School, Germantown High School, Shawmont Elementary, Dobson Elementary, Jenks Elementary, C.W. Henry Elementary, and Emlen Elementary.
In This article
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Roxborough High School
6498 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA -
Germantown High School
40 E High St, Philadelphia, PA -
Shawmont Elementary School
535 Shawmont Ave, Philadelphia, PA -
James Dobson Elementary School
4667 Umbria St, Philadelphia, PA -
Eleanor C. Emlen School
6501 Chew Ave, Philadelphia, PA
