| February 3, 2012 KSS & Charter Schools Spur Urban Revitalization The charter school movement – a national phenomenon providing an alternative to traditional public education – is shaping this effort and helping inner city school districts educate children in a different way. Case in point: KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy. KIPP, or the Knowledge is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in educationally underserved communities. Nearly 20,000 students attend one of the 99 KIPP schools that operate in 20 states and the District of Columbia. KIPP Philadelphia Schools (KPS) is a part of the national KIPP network and currently has four schools, serving approximately 720 students in North and West Philadelphia. KIPP Philadelphia celebrated the opening of KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy, in North Philadelphia's Allegheny West community, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on January 24. Designed by KSS Architects, of Philadelphia and Princeton, the kindergarten-through-fourth-grade school has transformed what was a vacant plumbing fixtures warehouse into a vibrant hub for the community. The two-story school features classrooms and offices on the first floor and a new 3,400-square-foot multipurpose room. The second floor is expected to be renovated in a future phase as the school – now home to 150 students in kindergarten and first grade – anticipates growing to 500 students in kindergarten through fourth grade by 2014-15. "Efforts like KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy are breathing new life into the fabric of urban communities throughout our region and beyond," said Merilee Meacock, partner at KSS Architects. "Reclaiming vacant buildings and transforming them into vibrant, safe and nurturing environments benefit children, families and entire neighborhoods." On Jan. 24, more than 250 parents, teachers and community members, joined Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, tennis great Andre Agassi and national charter school education leaders in the new multipurpose room to celebrate KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy. "The story of this building took vision, grit and tough decision-making," said Marc Mannella, founder and CEO of KIPP Philadelphia Schools as he referenced the project team's dedication and commitment to upholding KIPP's own core values. "From signing the lease in June to our first class in August, it was tight but we did it." "Our teachers, our families and our students are wonderful," added Ben Speicher, School Leader at KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy. "Now we have a building worthy of their hard work and dedication." KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy is the first school to be completed with the help of the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund, which seeks to promote the success and growth of charter schools in urban communities by acting as a for-profit "bridge developer" for educational facilities. A joint venture between Andre Agassi Ventures LLC and Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, the fund expects to facilitate the development of more than 75 urban school sites creating seats for approximately 40,000 students over the next three to four years. "I'm a ninth grade drop-out," said Agassi. "Fortunately I had tennis to fall back on. But what about kids without that option?" Inspired to make a difference, Agassi founded the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in his hometown of Las Vegas in 2001 to provide a college-prep education for low-income students. Recognizing the difficulty charter schools have in finding and affording suitable buildings, he teamed up with Canyon to establish the facilities fund. As he and Bobby Turner, co-managing partner of Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund and chairman and CEO of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, began seeking investors for the fund they received interest nationally and abroad – China even offered to buy the entire fund to ensure the future American workforce could repay its trillions of dollars in debt. "We didn't go that route," said Turner. "But what we have achieved is the ability to make a reasonable return on investment and empower everyone here at KIPP to succeed." Agassi agreed. "If you give children hope, especially in an area where there is not a lot of it, the community will protect and nurture it," he added. Mayor Nutter praised KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy for leading the way in providing quality education for the city's youth. "Outside this building our city has some serious challenges, but when [students] walk in this place they know they will be safe, secure, nurtured and taken care of," said Mayor Nutter. "Nothing is more important to this city then having great schools to send our children to." Not an issue isolated to Philadelphia many of our nation's cities face the same challenges. Positioned in tough neighborhoods with access to mass transit and local cultural opportunities, charter schools are making a difference. KSS Architects celebrated the opening of three additional urban charter schools in the fall of 2011. Golden Door Charter School – Jersey City, NJ Formerly a parochial school and convent, KSS Architects helped turn an early 20th century American Beaux Arts building into a new home for Golden Door Charter School. Situated prominently on a hill just a few blocks from the city's historic Journal Square, the 75,000-square-foot school is home to 500 kindergarten-through-12th-grade students. A shining example of adaptive reuse, repurposing the historic school and convent for Golden Door Charter School breathed new life into not only a vacant building, but also the community at large. North Star Academy Charter School – Newark, NJ Situated at a landmark intersection in the Military Park Historic District of downtown Newark, North Star Academy Charter School needed space to grow and a physical presence that lived up to its prominent location. KSS Architects turned a turf field into a new 50,000-square-foot building to unify North Star's existing middle and high schools. Now a symbol for the school, the new building has become the heart of North Star's campus. Elevated walkways, a new central courtyard and campus entrance organize and connect the school's three buildings, providing opportunities for students and teachers to share resources, such as the gymnasium, cafeteria, rooftop play area and classrooms. Hyde Leadership Charter School – South Bronx, NY In an educationally disadvantaged area of the Bronx, Hyde Leadership Charter School is striving to change the lives of students from kindergarten to high school. As it continues to grow, Hyde-Bronx needed space to accommodate its high school population. Working closely with the school and Civic Builders, KSS designed Hyde's new high school in the Hunts Point-Longwood section of the South Bronx, close to its current location at MS424. One of the first schools built in the neighborhood since World War II, Hyde Leadership Charter School has become the heart of the community. About KSS KSS Architects LLP is an award-winning architectural design firm with offices in Philadelphia and Princeton, N.J. Founded in 1983, KSS specializes in the design and planning of educational, corporate, commercial and industrial buildings. Named AIA New Jersey's Firm of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2009, KSS has a diverse breadth of work that includes a new distribution center for Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, the Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons for WHYY Public Media, the new campus center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Teachers Village in Newark, N.J., and the Sustainability Action Plan for the City of Newark. For more information, visit www.kssarchitects.com. Media Contact (for hi-res images and interviews) Gwen McNamara, LEED AP Communications Director, KSS Architects LLP 609.921.1131 x1045 | gmcnamara@kssarchitects.com |
| January 5, 2012 A New Journey for KSS Architects Co-founder Since establishing KSS Architects in 1983 with colleagues Michael Shatken and Rafael Sharon, Kehrt has helped the firm grow from a staff of three focused on residential design, into a 40-person company with offices in Princeton and Philadelphia. With the leadership of its six partners – Kehrt, Shatken, Edmund Klimek, Pamela Lucas Rew, David Zaiser, and Merilee Meacock – KSS has risen above recent economic challenges and developed an award-winning portfolio of projects across the nation in the markets of higher education, K-12 education, industrial, commercial, corporate interiors, municipal design and sustainable design. "The past year was one of the strongest we have had in the market," Shatken said. "Allan shaped our core values about design excellence as well as client relationships, which all of the partners have instilled throughout the firm. As a result, our breadth of work and our national presence continue to grow." "I will admit it's hard to back away from KSS after 28 years," added Kehrt. "But it's is something we have been planning for many years. I have absolute confidence that Michael and our next generation will continue to add to the exceptional achievements of KSS for many, many years. It's been a great ride!" Kehrt's legacy of celebrated projects include Rutgers University's Biomedical Engineering Building, the renovation and expansion of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, the recent new campus center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and Princeton Township's Municipal Complex. In 2001, Kehrt was elevated to the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows, an honor bestowed to only 3 percent of all registered architects in the U.S. In 2008, Kehrt was nominated to the AIA's Jury of Fellows, a three-year post, and served as a chairman in 2010. Kehrt was also named Architect of the Year by AIA New Jersey in 2006. Active in the design education community, Allan has served as faculty, guest lecturer, or juror at many colleges of architecture in the east, including the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia University, Moore College of Art & Design, New Jersey Institute of Technology and his alma mater Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he will continue on its Advisory Board. He has presented and lectured for many professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects and the Society of College and University Planning. Not one to take life easy, Kehrt and wife, Michaele, have a long list of to-dos, including traveling, sailing, painting and visiting their three grown children, Matthew, Emily and Katherine. Kehrt will remain active in the design community, not only at KSS, but also as a longstanding member and chairman of the planning board for Cranbury Township, N.J. About KSS KSS Architects LLP is an award-winning architectural design firm with offices in Philadelphia and Princeton, N.J. Founded in 1983, KSS specializes in the design and planning of educational, corporate, commercial and industrial buildings. Named AIA New Jersey's Firm of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2009, KSS has a diverse breadth of work that includes the new campus center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, a new distribution center for Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Teachers Village in Newark, N.J., and the Sustainability Action Plan for the City of Newark. For more information, visit www.kssarchitects.com. Media Contact (for hi-res images and interviews) Gwen McNamara, LEED AP Communications Director, KSS Architects LLP 609.921.1131 x1045 | gmcnamara@kssarchitects.com Photo credit to Matt Romano Photo, Halkin Architectural Photography, LLC, and Taylor Photographics |
