The Byron Story Foundation (BSF) was established by Juanita
Story Jones in memory of her son, a promising high school graduate from Philadelphia who was
killed in 2002 as the result of handgun violence. BSF provides alternative education, GED
preparation, and social development skills to guide and inspire at-risk truant
and drop-out students from Philadelphia’s
public high schools. By virtue of dedication, intuitive approach, and philanthropic
support, BSF has seen enrollment increase each year since its inception. Recognizing the need to expand, BSF acquired
adjacent property and requested assistance from the Community Design
Collaborative to develop and propose a new building scheme for fundraising
purposes and eventual construction.
Final deliverables include a program document, conceptual floor plans, preliminary
zoning code review, a perspective rendering, and opinion of probable cost.Design criteria were collected and refined through numerous
meetings at the client’s current facility.
A “sketch program” evolved into conceptual floor plans through much
discussion and direct interaction with BSF’s administrative and teaching staff. The building’s architectural expression was
inspired by a simple question: “If this
building were a store, what would you be selling?” The answer came back
almost immediately: “Hope.”