Religious
The Philadelphia Masjid/Sister Clara Muhammad CDC
The Philadelphia Masjid was one of three religious sites that received design services through the Sacred Places/Civic Spaces initiative—a partnership between the Community Design Collaborative and Partners for Sacred Places to re-envision underutilized, purpose-built religious properties as community hubs. The Masjid serves a congregation of 500, while also acting as a central hub for many others in the region's Muslim community. The 1.5-acre former Diocesan school complex has been underutilized since the closing of the Sister Clara Muhammad School over ten years ago. The site offers the potential for both renovation and new construction, and the congregation hopes to use its excess space to meet the needs of the neighborhood and lay the foundation for a broad community development initiative. Community partner, People's Emergency Center, recognizes this site as a key opportunity within the Promise Zone and Opportunity Zone, and as a significant gateway to the neighborhood.
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Design strategies include creating new, welcoming entrances to the existing buildings and a public plaza to connect the site to the larger community.
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New affordable housing for seniors and families will be built on the former playground. The new development will include space for senior and early childhood education programs.
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The Philadelphia Masjid has a vital, growing congregation, here celebrating Eid Al Ftr.
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The plaza and redesigned pedestrian crossings will knit the Masjid more purposefully into the surrounding neighborhood.
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The existing classroom building will be renovated to house culinary and workforce development programs.
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Discussing the design in progress at the Sacred Places/Civic Spaces mid-review.
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Improvements to the school building will include a more welcoming, transparent entrance.
