Transforming the Commons: SCH Officially Opens the New Quad

This past Friday marked a historic milestone for our campus as donors, Trustees, and community members gathered to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of the new Quad. As one of the final links in SCH’s ambitious 10-year Campus Master Plan, this project reflects a decade of campus transformation guided by Campaign for the Commons Co-Chairs Jess Hayne P’31, P’33 and Ed McDevitt ’93, P’24, P’26.

Built with collaboration in mind, the Quad, which opened to students on the first day of school this fall, has transformed our campus into a calm, student-first environment by removing car traffic from the area. Anchored by a new brick pathway, the space connects a stone entrance and garden off Willow Grove Avenue to the Early Childhood Center (ECC). Indigenous landscaping and specimen tree plantings surround shaded outdoor seating, vibrant social zones, and a turf recreation terrace where students from ECC to Upper School gather for lunch, conversation, and play. At the heart of this updated landscape lies a stone amphitheater built into the hillside, providing a dynamic gathering space for classes and assemblies.

The project also restored the historic architectural character of the Wissahickon Inn’s south entrance. Supported by The William B. Dietrich Foundation, expanded steps and an additional student entrance now create a seamless, welcoming gateway between classes. This transformation was further fueled by the record-breaking fundraising efforts led by Yolanda Banks P’26 and the Parents Association’s Down & Derby committee.

With the Quad now complete, SCH has created a space for students of all ages, as well as faculty and staff.  As our community enjoys this dynamic space, the campaign turns to its final upcoming piece: modernizing the Kingsley Complex athletic facilities, training room, accessibility, team meeting rooms, and locker rooms.