Schools

The Story Behind Philly School Buildings

Hidden City shares the architectural background for public schools.

Sam Fran Scavuzzo, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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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.

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