In the late 1990’s Pierce College decided to convert four typical Philadelphia row houses adjacent to its six-story college building on Pine Street to house its staff offices. These three-story row houses were constructed of brick walls and wood framing. In order to facilitate connectivity between these row houses, steel framing was used to bridge common masonry walls and create new openings between each building. Additionally, to maintain the historical appearance of these buildings, steel framing was used to support the existing chimneys. Structural modification was required to allow for installation of an elevator shaft within the newly renovated facility.
