Repurposed school buildings are home to a variety of groups, including artisans, local governments and restaurants. But funding and getting public buy-in for these projects isn’t always easy.
In 2016, Rebecca Davies and her
fellow Remark Glass co-founders needed space in Philadelphia to expand
their growing glassblowing business. When they learned of an available
basement space in the 340,000-square-foot Bok Building, a former
technical high school in South Philadelphia, they decided to take a look
— and a gamble.
...moreThe space was perfect for the team’s needs, but Remark Glass would be one of just 15 new tenants in the newly repurposed Bok, which was auctioned off by the city in 2013. The basement of an abandoned school building isn’t exactly a high-visibility location, and being first in a new venture brings its share of risk, Davies explained. Would it fly?..
RSK: Love adaptive reuse. Look at Holy Name Seminary on the far westside of Madison. Turned into apartments and condos and offices...
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- - Volume: 25 - WEEK: 5 Date: 1/28/2025 3:01:25 PM -