location Philadelphia, PA
for The Salvation Army Red Shield Center + HopePHL
type Institutional, Play
size 500sf

built by Bob Wright + HEIMA
design team HEIMA + Playful Learning Landscapes

We worked with partners at Playful Learning Landscapes to transform a small, unused back room at the Central Philadelphia Red Shield Center, a family shelter operated by The Salvation Army, into a space for play targeted at kids aged 10-14 that were unserved by the shelter’s existing playroom. Our design creates a treehouse around an existing window that kids transform from cozy hangout zone to raucous active playground using the building-block-like cushions stored below. The screen serves creates a comfortably-proportioned space just for kids within the larger room’s volume, filtering light, introducing mystery, containing activity, and keeping kids safe on the elevated play surface.

Together with our friend Bob Wright, HEIMA was also played the roles of construction manager and builder over the course of several months. Our constant presence in the field helped us to manage scarce resources and to find creative uses for the cheapest of building materials, transforming them into a totally-custom piece of millwork.

The Salvation Army