Arch Street Presbyterian Church

Centrally located just steps from Philadelphia's City Hall, and sited between the city's two tallest skyscrapers, Arch Street Presbyterian Church is looking to become a welcoming, accessible, community-based asset to the vibrant downtown residential and office populations.  Built when Franklin Pierce was president, the church and the adjacent brownstone "Manse", is in need of upgrades, accessibility improvements, and some general reconfiguration in order to meet the needs of its congregants and its plans for community outreach.  BH+L was asked to produce a Planning Study to explore possibilities and to generate ideas for preservation, visioning and facilities monetization.  

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A community-wide charrette generated valuable insights that will be incorporated into the design process.