PLAYARTS

The ‘Front & Thompson Public Bath’ was built in 1907 to provide citizens with centralized access to hygienic bathing facilities. It was strategically located at the crossroads of three neighborhoods: Fishtown, South Kensington and Northern Liberties. Today, the structure is reimagined as a locally grown, play-based arts and enrichment center for child cognitive development. In addition to the main space for adventure-play, the program includes classrooms for art, music and dance instruction as well as a small cafe. Preservation and sustainability were key to the project’s mission. The design team focused on deep energy savings, long-term durability, low embodied carbon materials and a high level of indoor air quality.  With a goal of Net Positive Energy, a future solar photovoltaic panel array will generate approximately 105% of the facility’s energy use. PlayArts represents a return to the era of holistic community thinking while advancing the push to healthy building restoration in Philadelphia.