KMA worked with the church’s pastor, vestry, and building committee over a five-year period to develop a phased master plan for renovations and adaptive reuse of its complex of five buildings to serve the church’s mission of providing services to the community.

One of several projects completed in the master plan, the Paul and Christine Washington Family and Community Center, is a new building in the historic Church of the Advocate complex in North Philadelphia. The national landmark, which was modeled after the Gothic Amiens Cathedral, was built in 1887.

The new facility provides a gymnasium, classrooms, and office space for community outreach programs. Our solution was both an intervention and invention. The design integrates the remains of the chapel ruins into a new building made of modern materials compatible with those of the historic complex. The chapel’s old south and west walls were stabilized, but could not take the additional loads.

Exterior elevations reflect the rhythm and texture of the former chapel. Inside, steel roof trusses and a pine wood ceiling evoke the memory of the old hammer beam truss and roof.