A long-vacant corner in West Philadelphia is the new home of the Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships at Drexel University.
Drexel re-developed the site with the help of a $10 million gift from the Dornsifes.
“As the venue for Drexel’s research, practice and scholarship, the Dornsife Center will offer space for community outreach activities developed and delivered by the University’s participating colleges and schools, such as a free law clinic, health and wellness center, community education programs, arts collaborations, architectural design-build studios and engineering demonstrations,” the university said in a statement.
The center is located on a 1.3-acre site at 35th and Spring Garden streets. The university partnered with Philadelphia’s BLTA Architects to renovate three existing vacant buildings that formerly housed an elementary school and two administrative buildings. The site also includes an 1850s mansion that has been named Lindy House as a tribute to Philip B. Lindy, a philanthropist who secured the property for Drexel and was an active participant in the renovation.
The Dornsife Center was designed to support the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and create a space for the Mantua, Powelton Village and Drexel communities to interact and share with each other. The newly renovated buildings provide a range of flexible spaces appropriate for individual counseling, group meetings and workshops, large gatherings and hands-on innovation.
Source: Drexel University
Writer: Elise Vider