Lower School at William Penn Charter
A contemporary campus for play, learning, and natural discovery.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Client: William Penn Charter School
Size: 6 acres
Project status: Construction complete 2025.
Project team: Ground Reconsidered; EwingCole (Project Prime); CEC, Inc.; O’Donnell & Naccarato; Schiller & Hersh Associates; Acentech.
Ground Reconsidered completed the site design for the Lower School at William Penn Charter School, located in Philadelphia’s East Falls neighborhood. As the oldest Quaker school in the country, the landscape design aims to foster Quaker ideals such as simplicity, community, equity, and stewardship, while also drawing inspiration from the geology and ecology of the local Wissahickon Valley. The landscape was conceived as an integral part of the learning experience with elements such as natural play equipment, amphitheater seating, and a dry stream bed that creates spaces for active play, nature play, gathering, exploration, study, and contemplation. Two roof terraces extend the outdoor space, with one focused on STEM learning with an outdoor classroom and planters for student use. The project refined campus connections, which enhance the school’s vision of a pedestrian-oriented academic village.
