In an exceptional example of adaptive reuse, two abandoned industrial facilities were transformed into an educational complex that successfully serves Both the Chester County Technical College High School (CCTCHS) and Delaware County Community College (DCCC). High school students attend daytime classes; college students attend throughout the day and evening. The new complex houses a range of specialized vocational-technical classrooms, labs and shops supported by separate high school and college administrative suites, a cafeteria and a fitness center. The new school is also directly connected to the adjacent Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) headquarters, allowing the use of shared operations and common use spaces.
“Construction of a new facility was cost prohibitive and precluded by the scarcity of suitable sites in the region, inspiring the Intermediate Unit to think outside of the box,” explains Joseph Lubitsky, Chester County Intermediate Unit Director of Adminstrative Services. “We had to look no further than out our window to discover the adaptive reuse opportunities that abounded in the industrial park adjacent to the CCIU Headquarters in Downingtown.” The school and surrounding businesses also reciprocally benefit each other. Students are trained for future work at local companies and those same companies provide valuable resources to the school.
Programmatically, the two adjacent warehouse buildings were linked together by a fitness center addition, creating a courtyard for outdoor activities. Within each of the two building masses, new lobbies organize the layout of the building. The lobbies feature exposed ceiling structure, skylights, pendant lighting, a glass handrailed ramp, built-in seating and an interesting blend of colors and materials. The resulting atmosphere is well lit, attractive and lively, suitable for a 21st century career and technical school.
The spacious open warehouses “shells” were a good fit for the educational programs requiring tall ceiling spaces, such as the cafeteria and the automotive repair, carpentry and HVAC shops. Additionally, new lighting, ductwork and other infrastructure were easily constructed within the existing structure. Reusing the existing structure facilitated green construction practice by reducing the need for newly manufactured materials from natural resources and thus achieving a significant saving for the owner.
On the exterior, a brick colonnade and suspended entrance canopy are layered in front of the reclad two-story warehouse. This provides a playful rhythm, creates a dramatic sense of entrance and helps reduce the scale of the large walls behind. Contrarily, oversized metal letters and industrial light fixtures generate a strong building identity from the street.
