Philadelphia, PA

Germantown Friends School: All School Commons

Becker & Frondorf served as Project Managers for Germantown Friends School’s (GFS) campus center project, combining new construction with adaptive reuse to unite the Smith Gym and Loeb Performing Arts Center. The work involved historic preservation efforts, and the project’s adaptive reuse of existing structures helped achieve the school’s goals for sustainable design. Becker & Frondorf also supported GFS in navigating the complex Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding process, helping ensure the project aligned with the school’s values of creativity, connection, and community. In collaboration with DIGSAU, Leslie Gill Architect, and INTECH Construction, we helped deliver the All School Commons and the Abigail R. Cohen Center for the Arts.

Project TypeSchool Addition
Construction Cost$32M
Project Size44,800 square feet
ArchitectDIGSAU & Leslie Gill Architects
BuilderINTECH Construction

Bringing Campus Spaces to Life

The completed project features a new dining hall and servery, student lounges, informal collaboration areas, a makerspace Fab Lab, and an arts wing with 12 classrooms dedicated to design, music, and computer science. Various site improvements enhanced campus accessibility, and incorporating custom furniture crafted from a beloved campus tree demonstrated GFS’s commitment to sustainability.

Creating Hubs for Connection and Learning

From early budgeting through final occupancy, our team focused on anticipating challenges, minimizing disruptions to campus life, and supporting thoughtful decision-making. Our project management approach combined detailed planning with the flexibility needed to address evolving conditions. We maintained transparent communication with all stakeholders and actively managed logistics to keep the work aligned with GFS’s goals. At Becker & Frondorf, we understand the unique needs of K–12 institutions and we are proud to have partnered with Germantown Friends School to create spaces where students and faculty can learn, gather, and thrive.

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B&F's Project Managers protect budgets, safeguard schedules, minimize disruptions, and coordinate the entire team, with a careful eye on quality.