Education
St. Mary Interparochial School
St. Mary Interparochial School’s (SMIPS) central location and award-winning academic program attracts students from throughout the city. After ten years of exceeding maximum capacity for enrollment, SMIPS is seeking options to expand. A programming study by the Collaborative volunteer design team outlines the space required to meet current academic, recreational, and administrative needs and add a pre-kindergarten class. The study provided the framework for evaluating expansion options on-site and nearby.
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St. Mary Interparochial School, located in Society Hill, draws students from forty Philadelphia zip codes.
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The school cannot expand onto adjacent properties, the National Park Service-owned Magnolia Garden and Old St. Mary's Church Cemetery.
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An important first step was a programming study that looked at existing and ideal uses of space and new needs for expansion.
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The gymnasium/cafeteria is also used as a classroom. One option for on-site expansion is building a mezzanine within the space.
