Bohler Project Recognized by AIA Philadelphia in Context Summer 2025 Edition

Bohler is proud to announce that the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School project, designed by Atkin Olshin Schade Architects with site civil engineering design and permitting support from Bohler, is featured in the Summer 2025 edition of Context.

A quarterly publication from AIA Philadelphia, Context highlights outstanding design, adaptive reuse, and community-focused projects shaping the built environment across the region. 

YouthBuild Philadelphia is a transformative alternative education model serving more than 270 young adults who have previously disengaged from the public school system. The organization’s new home reimagines a historic 1930 building — once a Philadelphia Electric Company showroom and district office — into an uplifting, vibrant space that fosters education and community. 

The adaptive reuse project includes dedicated training spaces for workforce development programs, 12 classrooms, administrative offices, and a welcoming entrance with central tiered seating leading to a mezzanine. A new third-floor addition provides a multipurpose room, food service space, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Broad Street, offering opportunities for outdoor learning and sustainability education. 

“Our team is proud to have contributed to a project that not only revitalizes a historic structure, but also creates a supportive and inspiring environment for Philadelphia’s students,” said Matt Kearse, Branch Manager at Bohler. “This is the type of work that demonstrates how design and engineering can directly impact lives and communities.” 

By blending historic preservation with modern educational needs, the YouthBuild Philadelphia facility reflects the school’s core values of Respect, Excellence, and Perseverance — and stands as a model for adaptive reuse that delivers lasting community impact. 

See the project’s feature here.