Restoring a dilapidated building to a modern and beautiful public school

As leaders in public education, KIPP is not a traditional charter school organization. All students in the community are welcome at KIPP schools and benefit from the latest in educational technology. This 1924 school building had limited maintenance or improvements over its 100-year history.

The project team was challenged to preserve period architectural details and contend with structural constraints and construction technologies. Not an inch was untouched in transforming the building into a best-in-class learning environment for Camden students.

The floor plan had to be reworked in places to accommodate the KIPP Charter School organization’s standardized “Teaching Wall” in each classroom. Given its vintage, the robust masonry and steel structure lacked a lateral reinforcing system. Certain interior partitions unintentionally served that purpose, and the design team was compelled to reconfigure the plan to avoid relocation of (or even openings within) those walls.

Domestic water plumbing piping was replaced to address lead contamination within the school building, and filtration was added to address water contamination entering the building. HVAC was upgraded throughout, including the replacement of the air handler serving the open steel truss roofed gymnasium. Laboratory science classrooms were built. The auditorium, gym, and cafeteria were refurbished to provide more natural light.