This incredible building has had many lives within the Germantown community, and sits on the Historic Commercial Corridor which was once flourishing, and is now in the process of being re-invented and re-populated thanks to the drive of the community and organizations like GUCDC.

Originally a Fire Station, housing ladder #8 from 1920-58, then an Association for the Blind from 1959-63, a Philadelphia Coca Cola Bottling Co. from 1964-95 and most recently a Plastics Manufacturing space. Through its many lives the building has always been a visual beacon on the commercial corridor - often referred to as the ‘Jewish Firehouse’ due to the symbol on the front facade - which is actually the Greek symbol for Fire and Water but also closely resembles the Star of David.

Through the renovation process one of the aims was to allow the incredible structure to become a part of the spaces. It was in part the high ceilings and old timber/brick structure that drew the owners to the building - that and who wouldn’t want to own an old firehouse, its the stuff of childhood dreams!

Old blueprints and photos of the building allowed the re-positioning of the main staircase back to its original position. The skylight above the stair was opened up (6ft by 13ft) and replaced to allow natural light to fall across both the second and first floors. Old timber beams were upcycled to create a monumental wall that travels from the lower floor up to the second floor. Marble from the bathrooms will now reside in the common spaces and a few other features were kept in tact as a nod to the buildings past - the spiral stair that links the first and second floor just had to stay!