Fostering Resilience
The Graham Athletics and Wellness Center strengthens William Penn Charter’s mission by promoting balance, inclusion, and student growth.
The Graham Athletics & Wellness Center
Philadelphia, PA
William Penn Charter School, the nation’s oldest Quaker school, is guided by the belief that education should nurture the whole student—mind, body, and spirit. With a commitment to academic excellence, wellness, and inclusive participation, the school needed a modern facility to support one of the most extensive athletic programs among Pennsylvania independent schools and serve a student body of more than 900 from kindergarten through 12th grade.
As part of its multi-phase campus master plan, the school identified the need for a new athletics and wellness center that could accommodate physical education, competitive sports, and community-focused wellness programs. The goal was to create a facility that promotes student health, supports diverse forms of movement, and strengthens the connection between athletics and academics.
Strategically located at the intersection of the academic and athletic zones, the Graham Athletics and Wellness Center fulfills that vision. Its exterior draws inspiration from the campus’s historic colonial revival architecture, blending traditional materials with a more contemporary form. Inside, open sightlines and daylight-filled spaces reflect Quaker values of simplicity, transparency, and community.
The Graham Center advances Penn Charter’s mission by providing an environment where students can develop resilience, creativity, and a lifelong commitment to well-being.
The center features two competition basketball courts, four practice courts, a climbing wall, training and recreation spaces, and a nutrition center. It also includes locker and team rooms, hydrotherapy, and an athletics administrative suite. A central multistory lounge, flanked by flexible classrooms and a nutrition bar, serves as the anchor of the school’s wellness program, offering space for both casual gatherings and formal instruction.
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