The School Commons and Center for the Arts for the Germantown Friends School is a collection of vibrant learning and community spaces that will accommodate student gathering functions and create spaces for the performing arts, music, and visual arts.
In addition to associated landscape and site improvements, the All-School Commons will consist of the adaptive reuse of Smith Gym into a dining and gathering space and a new addition that will link Smith Gym to the existing Loeb Performing Arts Center. This new linking structure will provide infrastructure support and ADA accessibility to both existing structures, as well as a new kitchen/servery, classrooms, workspaces, and production spaces supporting the Performing Arts, Music, and Visual Arts departments. Minimal improvements to Loeb will facilitate connectivity while supporting the future renovations of the facility as a separate project. Improving the existing landscape and adding new outdoor spaces will support the joining of these social and physical centers.
The All-School Commons will be reimagined with an emphasis on pedestrian rather than vehicular traffic. The campus-side outdoor spaces at Loeb and Smith will become places that encourage interaction through study and play. A new parking lot and service entrance will be developed off Greene Street to support the All-School Commons operations.