Lewis C. Cassidy Elementary School
Grand Prize, New Construction | 2025 Education Design Showcase
EwingCole
Project Information
Facility Use: K-12 Institution
Project Type: New Construction
Category: Whole Building / Campus Design
Location: Pennsylvania
District/Inst.: School District of Philadelphia
Chief Administrator: Herman Douglas
Completion Date: 8/16/2024
Gross Area: 83,000 square feet
Area Per Student: n/a
Site Size: 1.9 acres
Current Enrollment: 232
Capacity: 570
Cost per Student: n/a
Cost per Sq. Ft.: $665
Total Cost: $55,200,000
Designed to set a new standard for education in Philadelphia, Lewis C. Cassidy Elementary School is a dynamic, LEED Gold-designed K-8 facility that supports 21st-century learning while fostering deep community connections. The 83,000-square-foot school serves 570 students and replaces an outdated early 20th-century building with a flexible, technology-integrated environment tailored for modern pedagogy.
The design overcomes the previous school's spatial and technological limitations by incorporating collaborative learning spaces, a central student common ("the canyon"), and a state-of-the-art media center. The layout maximizes daylight, improves circulation, and supports diverse learning styles with specialized STEAM-focused classrooms, maker spaces, and a discovery common. Biophilic design and intuitive color-coded wayfinding buttresses the welcoming, inspiring environment.
The design prioritizes safety and security through thoughtful planning. Open sightlines throughout the building and grounds enhance natural surveillance and mitigate risk. Spaces encourage positive social interaction, reducing behaviors such as bullying. Controlled entry points and secure pathways protect students while maintaining accessibility for community use.
Outdoor areas extend learning beyond the classroom, with a biophilic playground, a green roof, and stormwater gardens that enhance sustainability and student wellness. Community engagement is central to the design, ensuring the school's assembly spaces, gymnasium, and outdoor areas serve as neighborhood assets.
By prioritizing inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, Cassidy Elementary establishes itself as a "school of choice," shaping the future of education in Philadelphia while enriching the surrounding community.
Architect(s):
EwingCole
215-923-2020