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Bringing Education to Underserved Communities: Philip’s Academy’s Purpose

Studio 27 is thrilled to announce we’ve reached the finish line on the transformation of a vacant manufacturing site into a progressive new K-8 campus for the Philip’s Academy Charter School of Paterson (PACS) in Paterson, New Jersey. On June 5, 2024, Philip’s Academy, alongside a diverse group of stakeholders, celebrated this momentous occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This event marked the official opening of Philip’s Academy’s first new state-of-the-art academic building that brings the school community of 660 students – previously dispersed across three separate locations – under one roof.

While Philip’s Academy has been providing enriching educations programs to a diverse student body and families from low income and urban areas for almost three decades, their new building aims to expand their reach and their rigorous moral and educational program by providing a technology-infused learning environment, full-service commercial kitchen, dedicated gym, and ample outdoor spaces.

Prior to construction, the once abandoned site on Madison Avenue in Paterson was littered with remnants of raised manufacturing buildings dating back to the turn of the century. It was only fitting that Philip’s Academy, a school with environmental sustainability and global citizenship at the heart of its curriculum, take ownership and re-purpose this property into the vibrant educational learning environment that it is today.

Philip’s Academy believes the right environment unleashes potential. Studio 27 has crafted a design that honors Philip’s mission to enrich students’ lives and create a new standard for building and education in Paterson. Acknowledging the rich history of fabric manufacturing in Paterson, the building features a woven-like façade with color tones drawn from the residential homes of the neighborhood. The school’s massing respects the scale of its neighbors and is stacked around a landscaped courtyard. Occupiable roofs for active play, gardening, and outdoor classrooms maximize the building’s ability to facilitate both recreation and enhanced outdoor learning experiences for students – such as growing their own food – within the constraints of an urban landscape.

While an outdoor space at every level of the three-story building emphasizes the curriculum’s connection to nature, the design of the interior reinforces this respect for the earth and our environment. Working closely with educators, Studio 27 developed a unique identity for each floor as students progress through each grade level. The warm oranges of the first floor are reminiscent of the protective earth for K-1^st. Enriching greens and blues welcome 2^nd-4^th grades, while the yellows of the third floor elevate the middle schoolers to the heights of the sun, a subtle reminder of the bright futures ahead of them.

Philip’s Academy is excited to be the new neighbor in this diverse area of North Paterson. They are set to enrich the city’s fabric and be a beacon of learning and growth in Paterson, promising to make a lasting impact on the lives of its students and the broader community. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was not just the opening of a school but a celebration of hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for all involved.

Many thanks to the effort of a local contractor, O.A. Peterson Construction Company, and tireless investment and development from Building Hope, the non-profit leader in charter school facilities, financing, and services, for championing this opportunity to create a lasting change in the Paterson, New Jersey community.