Girls Inc. offers year-round programs to elementary, middle school and high school girls, and equips girls to navigate gender, economic and social barriers. They identified a prominently located, historic schoolhouse in utter disrepair, and endeavored to save the building while making it their new home.
The restoration evolved into a study of the history of the building, as well as a recreation of the architectural details from historic photos and architectural fragments found on site.
The project was built in two phases: the first a historic restoration and adaptive reuse of the 13,000 sq ft shoe making schoolhouse from 1850, and the second a steel framed addition of a 14,000 sq ft multi-function wing. The combined facility contains classrooms, computer and video labs, a teaching kitchen, meeting space, office space and a new gymnasium for athletics and performing arts.