Posted on January 23, 2025
Categories: News from SDP

Set to be the sixth newly constructed, innovative school over the last decade in the School District of Philadelphia The School District of Philadelphia, along with local developer Mosaic Development Partners JV and general contractor, Daniel J. Keating Company, celebrated the Topping Off of the new AMY at James Martin school in Port Richmond. Attendees gathered to hear remarks from the development team, school district representatives, and government officials, marking the beginning of this exciting new chapter as the District continues to improve its infrastructure portfolio.

“We are thrilled to top the new AMY at James with the final beam of steel, which shows the School District of Philadelphia’s commitment to creating spaces where our students, staff and the community want to be and learn each day,” said Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. “This innovative and state-of-the-art school will be a hub of the Port Richmond community and we are grateful for the collaboration with Mosaic Development Partners JV and Daniel J. Keating Company.

The AMY at James Martin development reached a significant milestone with the topping-off ceremony, marking the placement of the final steel beam atop the structure. This traditional construction event celebrates the completion of the building’s structural framework and recognizes the efforts of the construction team, design professionals, and stakeholders involved in the project.

The steel construction phase plays a crucial role in the project, providing the foundation for its strength, durability, and innovative design. The process involves fabricating steel components tailored to the building’s specifications, followed by careful placement and securing of each piece by skilled tradespeople. This creates a robust framework capable of supporting the structure’s load and ensuring long-term stability.

The School District of Philadelphia selected Mosaic Development Partners JV LLC and Daniel J. Keating Company to lead the $62 million development of a new state-of-the-art facility for AMY at James Martin, serving students in grades six to eight.

The AMY at James Martin project has exceeded its contractual participation goals for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE). Against a hard-cost goal of 20 percent for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), the project achieved an impressive 26 percent. Similarly, the Women Business Enterprises (WBE) goal of 15 percent reached 21 percent, while soft costs for architectural and engineering design soared past the 20 percent target to a remarkable 53 percent. Additionally, 57 percent of total work hours have been completed by minority workers.

These accomplishments demonstrate the project’s commitment to fostering opportunities for M/WBE businesses and workers, ensuring that the benefits of development extend to the surrounding community. By surpassing these goals, the project exemplifies how intentional participation can drive meaningful economic growth and provide sustainable opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Mosaic and Keating worked closely with their very seasoned team that includes KSS Architects, Moody Nolan, and Torrado Construction. The redevelopment of the current site will create a middle school designed for 21st-century learning in the Port Richmond area of Philadelphia, serving as a valuable resource for both the students and the community. The outdated James Martin School building, which was built in 1894, was demolished in June 2024 to make way for the new 88,000-square-foot, four-story building featuring state-of-the-art classrooms, a gymnatorium, a full-service kitchen and cafeteria, administrative and student support spaces, and an accessible green roof and outdoor play area.

The new middle school will also include specialty classrooms for art, science, and an Interactive Media Commons and Technology Lab, all designed to accommodate 500 students. This project aligns with priority area 1 in the School District’s five-year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly, and the Board of Education’s Guardrail 1 where every school will be a safe, welcoming and healthy space where students, staff and the community want to be and learn each day.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the topping-off ceremony for this transformative project that will provide AMY at James Martin with a state-of-the-art facility,” said Maria Sourbeer, Executive Vice President, of Mosaic Development Partners JV. “This milestone represents the progress made in bringing our vision to life. We believe quality education begins with intentional development, and this project exemplifies our commitment to creating spaces that meet the educational needs of the School District of Philadelphia and its students, while serving the Port Richmond community.”

The school’s layout and space organization are developed in line with the School District’s Educational Specifications, while also reflecting AMY’s unique teaching approaches. Core academic areas are arranged into learning neighborhoods, enabling students to navigate independently throughout the school day. Special subjects and hands-on learning spaces are located in community-facing areas, showcasing learning in action. Outdoor spaces are designed to provide additional educational and recreational opportunities, featuring unique elements such as AMY’s bike program.

“Daniel J. Keating Company is honored to work alongside such a talented team on this exciting project. We deeply appreciate the hard work and collaboration of all stakeholders, including the School District of Philadelphia, our elected officials, and PROPAC, which has helped us reach this exciting milestone.” said Pierce Keating Jr., President of Daniel J. Keating Company. “We look forward to successfully completing another transformative school for the students of Philadelphia.”

Since 2020, the District has opened five new school buildings including Samuel Powel Elementary/Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLAMS)  in 2021, Northeast Community Propel Academy in 2021, Solomon Solis-Cohen in 2022, Thomas M. Peirce School in 2023 and Lewis C. Cassidy Academics Plus School in 2024.