Alain Locke Schoolyard

OLIN worked with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the School District of Philadelphia to redesign and stimulate the schoolyard of the Alain Locke School in West Philadelphia. The project served as an opportunity not only to enhance play, but also to convert an asphalt lot into green infrastructure, extend learning outdoors, and provide a unique resource of much needed outdoor community space. Working within a failing asphalt lot, outdated play equipment, and poor site drainage, the inherent challenges stretched the limits of allowable site disturbance according to the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD).

Bolstered by a grant from PWD, the design allocates more space for stormwater capture than typical—leveraging the transformation from a sea of asphalt to robust green space that includes new modes of play, learning, and gathering. Through a community and school engagement process led by TPL, OLIN and the design team met with students and faculty to carry out a vision that would excite students, staff, and neighbors alike.

 Collaboration with our project design partners and civil engineering team at AKRF enabled a thorough understanding of the site’s existing hydrology, both above and below the asphalt surface. To design a new play space within the precise square footage parameters of disturbance as defined by PWD, we carefully studied the nature of the site’s materiality impacting stormwater runoff and capacity. This exercise helped identify much needed improvements to site infrastructure that increases the functionality and viability of the nearly 35,000 square feet of bio-retention basins installed on site, in addition to the 21,000 square feet of new subsurface stormwater storage.

This project was developed in collaboration with play design experts Studio Ludo to, not simply replace, but actually transform an underutilized play structure—reimagined through surgical insertions of new play equipment. Due to strained resources throughout the Philadelphia School District, it was crucial for the existing structure to remain at Locke School, and for the design team to search for retro-fitted solutions. The result is a vibrant and thoroughly updated play space that updates the outmoded forms of play with new swings and climbing structures—universally appealing to students.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Owner
Trust for Public Land and the School District of Philadelphia

Status
Completed 2024

Key Team Members
Trevor Lee, Partner
Demetrios Staurinos, Partner