Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published in the Winter 2026 issue of Extant, a publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
Photo: Peter Woodall
Frankford High School
Location: 5000 Oxford Avenue
Built: 1914
Frankford High School in Northeast Philadelphia reopened in time for the 2025-2026 school year after an extensive $29.9 million renovation preserved the historic main building and addressed critical environmental hazards. Founded in 1910 as the northeast branch of Central High School, the current building was designed by Henry deCourcy Richards in 1914 in the late Gothic Revival style.
The building was closed in April 2023 after inspections identified damaged asbestos materials throughout the structure. While asbestos is not inherently dangerous, disturbed materials can release harmful fibers, requiring careful management and remediation.
Following the closure, several options were considered to meet the needs of students and staff. The chosen plan combined safety upgrades with comprehensive renovations, allowing the school to reopen in time for its 115th birthday celebration. Key measures included removal or repair of asbestos materials, installation of new windows, and upgraded educational technology in all classrooms. Floors were refinished, ceilings upgraded, and AC units installed throughout. The auditorium, gymnasium, and cafeteria received significant improvements, including new furniture, lighting, and flooring.
Historic features were carefully preserved, including murals, artwork, and architectural details. Routine asbestos inspections will continue every six months, and further maintenance, including roof repairs, is planned. Through this investment, Frankford High School has been revitalized as a safe, modern, and inspiring educational environment.
Photo: Peter Woodall
Willow Street Steam Generation Plant
Location: 411-19 North 9th Street
Built: 1927
After decades of uncertainty, the former Willow Street Steam Generation Plant is poised for a new life as an apartment building. Built in 1927 by the Philadelphia Electric Company and designed by prominent local architect John T. Windrim, the plant once powered a unique underground steam network, providing efficient heating to our dense urban fabric. By the 1970s, the building had fallen into disuse, changing hands multiple times and steadily deteriorating.
The rehabilitation project, led by the construction firm E-Built, began with extensive remediation work to stabilize the historic structure. Renovation of the exterior and interior is now underway, preserving the building’s industrial character, while adapting it for modern residential use. Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, the project benefits from historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Inside, the building will feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and polished concrete floors. Lofted units occupy the first and second floors, taking advantage of ceilings more than 16 feet high. Residents will enjoy amenities including a swimming pool, sauna, gym, theater room, and golf simulator in the basement, as well as a rooftop deck with Center City views.
Slated to open in mid-2026, the Willow Street project demonstrates how historic industrial buildings can be thoughtfully repurposed, blending preservation with contemporary living.
Photo: Peter Woodall
Cathedral Flats
Location: 1030 North 48th Street
Built: 1872
Our Mother of Sorrows Church, located in West Philadelphia, has been thoughtfully adapted for contemporary residential use. Established as a parish in 1852, its origins trace to 1849 with the creation of the adjacent Cathedral Cemetery, which spurred Catholic settlement in the area.
The church’s Romanesque Revival structure, designed by prominent ecclesiastical architect Edwin Forrest Durang and completed in 1872, was later enhanced with twin spires in 1891-92, making it a landmark along Lancaster Avenue. For nearly a century and a half, Our Mother of Sorrows served as the spiritual and social center of a large and diverse congregation. The parish supported multiple schools, a convent and extensive charitable programs.
By the early 21st century, however, declining attendance led to the parish’s 2017 merger with St. Ignatius of Loyola, leaving the complex vacant and vulnerable to redevelopment pressures. Recognizing the site’s architectural and cultural importance, the Preservation Alliance successfully nominated Our Mother of Sorrows for local historic designation in 2018, ensuring its protection under the city’s preservation ordinance.
Today, the church has been sensitively converted into Cathedral Flats, a residential complex that preserves the grandeur of Durang’s design. The adaptive reuse maintains the church’s signature 12-foot ceilings, stained-glass windows, and monumental masonry while incorporating modern interiors and amenities. The project exemplifies how historic religious buildings can be reimagined to meet contemporary needs.
