Steel framing rose for the new building at Frankford Friends School last week. The project, the culmination of many years of planning at the school, will allow it to offer high-quality Friends education program to more local families by expanding the space in middle school classrooms. The new building will provide a multipurpose space, a music room, and three more classrooms. The building, which is among several new construction projects now happening in Frankford, was designed by DIGSAU and is being built by CVM Construction.

Energy use at the new building will be reduced through the use of a highly insulated envelope, an efficient HVAC system, exhaust fans, operable windows, natural light, highly-insulated walls, and solar shades that block summer sun while bouncing winter sun more deeply into the rooms. A large north-facing skylight in the multipurpose room minimizes lighting costs. Rain barrels will keep rain water out of the city stormwater system and provide free water for classroom and ornamental gardens. All materials and carpet will are low VOC. Budget allowing, the exterior will be clad in reclaimed red cedar.

The school, which has been on its historic campus since 1833, expects to enroll over 130 students in grades PreK-8^th in the coming year. There are still some openings in grades 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7; the others have waiting lists.  For more information, www.frankfordfriendsschool.org

There seems to be an unusual spurt of construction underway in Frankford.  I took a tour yesterday to take some pictures.

Not documented here but it looks to be under construction at the site of the new location for the Bridge at 1100 Adams Avenue.

Northwood Academy Charter School at 4621 Castor Avenue is well underway.

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The kids down at Frankford Friends (Orthodox and Leiper Streets) are cranking out another great video promoting, of all things, Frankford Friends School.  As one of our premier cultural, historic and educational institutions, I think everybody should see it.  Here you go.

John Loftus, in the Northeast Times, reports on the upcoming construction of the new building.  Read all about it here.

The photo is by Jenny Swigoda of the Northeast Times.

Frankford Friends had their annual Spring Fair last Saturday, may 14th.  The weather looked threatening but the rain held off until the festivities were pretty much over.  The Fair is a very family friendly event as you can see from the video.  In addition, there was the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new school building as only the Friends will do it.  Nearly everybody got to throw a spade of hard earth to symbolically start the construction.  I trimmed the video for length so it is only a little over four minutes long.