Unveiling the Parkway Campus Expansion Project
A Celebration, or Two! |
Friends Select upper and middle school students, along with employees, returned from winter break to ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Parkway Campus Expansion Project. The party continued at this year’s State of the School Address in late January, in which Friends Select parents, guardians, employees, trustees, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate the completion of our dynamic new learning spaces, a milestone in the Advance Friends Select: Transformation Campaign. In response to record enrollment growth and as part of our ongoing commitment to the city of Philadelphia, Friends Select has expanded its Parkway Building into the neighboring Three Parkway Building. |
Creating New Spaces for Upper School and Beyond
This unparalleled opportunity has been facilitated by a partnership with the Three Parkway Building’s new owner, PMC Property Group, reviving a plan first considered many years ago, when Friends Select initially hoped to expand into the neighboring building. Fittingly, Friends Select once owned the land where Three Parkway now stands. “It’s a full circle moment for the school,” said head of school Michael Gary. “School leadership was hopeful for this plan years ago, and now it’s finally happened.”
The new spaces are directly connected to the second floor of the existing Parkway Building through two interior entryways, creating a single, continuous loop. Upper school students, faculty, and staff now have access to 10 new classrooms in Three Parkway, with sweeping views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a STEAM lab, and a large, brightly-lit room that the Friends Select community has named “The Commons,” among other spaces. Additionally, faculty and staff now have access to a lounge for all Friends Select employees, as well as a conference room, and new gender-neutral restrooms were installed for the entire community.
The Parkway Campus Expansion Project has also harmonized with several goals of the Back Lot Transformation. Elevator access in Three Parkway, which includes a dedicated elevator for Friends Select’s use only, accommodates accessibility to the Parkway Building’s rooftop athletic field and event space. Additional gender-neutral restrooms for the rooftop athletic field can be accessed on the third floor of Three Parkway. Since a more complex stairwell renovation is no longer necessary, this shift has improved the Back Lot Transformation timeline, which is estimated to be completed for the 2027–28 school year.
Accommodating Middle School Growth
The Parkway Campus Expansion Project was in part a response to significant growth in middle school enrollment and retention at Friends Select, which has reached historic levels. With approximately 100 students in fifth and sixth grades alone, the school recently added a third section in each grade, a first in recent years. “We feel we really have something special here in middle school, and I think the momentum will continue,” said Desiree Harmon P’19, director of middle school, reflecting on the rise in student enrollment. “Adding much-needed spaces will allow us to stretch our legs as a community and showcase what’s happening in middle school.”
The Parkway Campus Expansion Project has created more classrooms and a dedicated STEAM lab in the Parkway Building for middle school by transforming upper school classrooms on the second floor. By shifting the use of space, the middle school has been able to spread out significantly on the second floor of the Parkway Building. As a second phase of this project, the school has created new music rooms, a new chorus room, new rooms for lower school Spanish and Mandarin, and a new middle school art room in the Parkway Building this spring.
Maintaining a Commitment to Environmental Sustainability
While construction on the Parkway Campus Expansion Project was conducted by PMC Property Group, the project was overseen by Anchor Management Group. Anchor has successfully transformed other parts of the Parkway Building and created the upper school STEAM Building. As with other phases of the Transformation Campaign, environmental sustainability was at the forefront of the Parkway Campus Expansion Project, continuing the school’s commitment to this pillar of our Advance Friends Select strategic plan.
Rather than pursue new construction, Friends Select chose to adapt spaces in an adjacent, existing building, which significantly reduced the project’s environmental impact. “This decision reflects the school’s commitment to stewardship and responsible growth,” said Mike Rufo, president of Anchor Management. “Throughout the process, all parties involved worked in close coordination to ensure seamless integration into the existing Three Parkway Building—demonstrating that sustainability also depends on collaboration, communication, and precision at every stage.”
To guarantee environmental sustainability, Mike and his team applied familiar principles: reuse where possible, design for durability, and prioritize timelessness over trend. He added, “Those choices continue to support long-term adaptability and reduce the need for future renovations or replacements. Above all, the design remained grounded in the school’s core values. It celebrates Friends Select’s identity, enhances its presence in the city, and supports an educational model that is as mindful of its environmental impact as it is of its academic mission.”
Aligning with Our Strategic Plan Pillars
The Parkway Campus Expansion Project has comprehensively addressed all five pillars of Advance Friends Select. Excellence in teaching and learning has been supported through modern classroom and community spaces, whereas fostering partnerships with PMC Property Group and Anchor Management has helped realize a long-held vision. The project, funded through the school’s operating budget, has ensured continued financial sustainability by accommodating increasing enrollment and maximizing the use of existing spaces. The distinct yet interconnected spaces have created a sense of community for all students and employees. “These new spaces have allowed the community to intermingle more than ever,” said Desiree.
The expansion represents an investment in the school’s future and is a testament to Friends Select’s respected reputation. With the upcoming Back Lot Transformation, Friends Select continues to serve its growing community while maintaining the supportive environment that has made it a sought-after educational option for families. “The Parkway Campus Expansion Project truly celebrates our strategic pillars in so many ways,” said Michael. “The expansion represents a vision that’s been carefully planned and is now coming to fruition, demonstrating Friends Select’s long-term commitment to its goals.”
For more information about supporting the Parkway Campus Expansion Project and the Back Lot Transformation, please contact Angela Winterrowd, Friends Select's director of leadership gifts, at angelawi@friends-select.org or 215-561-5900 x3105.
