7111 Germantown Ave - Condo Conversion

Philadelphia, PA

A 19th-century Presbyterian church in Mt. Airy faced increasing vacancy as much of its structure remained underutilized. Located within the Central Mt. Airy Commercial Historic District, the building required a strategy that would allow the congregation to remain while securing its long-term future. Working with Philly Office Retail and Bancroft Green, O Z Collaborative led the adaptive reuse of the auxiliary portions of the complex, converting them into nineteen condominium residences. The sanctuary remained under separate control, allowing religious and residential uses to coexist. Interior interventions revealed original stone walls, timber framing, and architectural elements, which were integrated into open residential layouts. Four penthouse units were added atop the existing structure, maintaining the building’s scale while introducing new living spaces.

Accessibility presented a significant challenge due to twelve distinct floor levels. A full-service elevator and careful planning allowed fourteen units to be made accessible. Amenities include roof decks, balconies, sunrooms, patios, and a green-roofed carport. The project introduces new housing while preserving the building’s architectural character and civic presence, supporting continued use and long-term viability.

Photographed by Don Pearse

< Residential

Philly Office Retail & Bancroft Green

Open-concept living and dining area in a modern home with high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, hardwood floors, and a large windows allowing natural light.
Living room with white walls, hardwood floors, and a high ceiling. Features include a black sofa with multiple pillows, a glass coffee table, and a patterned rug. There is a small side table with a lamp, a black shelf with books and decor, and a wind
Open-concept living room and kitchen with wooden beams, hardwood floors, modern furniture, and natural light.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wooden bar stools at a kitchen island, hardwood flooring, and wall art.
Open-concept kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, black hardware, wooden flooring, and a dining area in the background. There are decorative plants, candles, and bowls on the island, with a staircase leading upstairs visible behin
A kitchen with a gray countertop, wooden bowls, a ceramic mug, and a modern faucet, overlooking a dining area with vases, flowers, and a round mirror on a white wall.
An interior dining area with a wooden table, black chairs, a brown leather ottoman, and a glass vase with flowers. In the background, there is a staircase with wooden steps and a railing, leading to an upper level. The space has natural light and mod
Bright living room with large windows, beige sofa, patterned rug, wooden side table, stone fireplace, desk with chair, potted plant, and modern ceiling lights.
A bedroom with a four-poster bed, white bedding, and pillows, and a sitting area with a gray sofa, a green pouf, a small side table, and lamps near large windows.
Shower area with beige marble tiles, a chrome showerhead, a glass shelf holding soap, and a modern chrome faucet.
A modern bathroom with a white vanity, a mirror cabinet, a toilet, a framed artwork, and a glass-enclosed walk-in shower with white marble tiles.
Bright bedroom with white walls, a bed with black, white, and striped pillows, wooden flooring, two nightstands with lamps, a mirror above a wooden dresser, and a window showing trees outside.
Modern bathroom with white brick wall shower area, black and white patterned shower curtain, toilet, white sink with wooden cabinet, framed black and white wall art, small window, and bright lighting.
A bright bedroom with a bed, two black nightstands with lamps, a window with a view of trees, a black chair, and a glass desk with a lamp.
Interior view from the upper floor of a modern balcony overlooking a living room with a sofa and coffee table. The balcony has a gray metal railing, a potted plant, a bench, and exposed wooden beams.
Bright interior space with white walls, wooden flooring, a sliding glass door leading to a balcony, a large green potted plant, a small cabinet with a vase on top, and a framed map on the wall.
Outdoor rooftop patio with wicker furniture, black and white rug, glass-topped coffee table, lantern, and wooden deck flooring. Open sliding door leads inside. Skylights and surrounding rooftops under a clear blue sky.
Rooftop terrace with outdoor seating, carpet, wooden decking, and view of trees and buildings under a clear blue sky.
Modern living room with white walls, large windows, and a wooden ceiling with black metal beams. It features black leather chairs with striped pillows, a large L-shaped sofa with various patterned pillows, a black coffee table with decorative items,
Open-concept living and dining room with white walls, wooden flooring, modern furniture, large windows, and decorative artwork.
Open-concept dining and kitchen area with a wooden dining table and six beige chairs featuring black legs, a centerpiece with plants in a white vase, and a light wood floor. The kitchen has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a refri
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wooden countertops, and hardwood flooring, open to a living room with a sofa and wall art.
Modern white kitchen with stainless steel appliances, wooden flooring, and a small dining table with five black chairs and a green plant centerpiece, wall art with the word 'FLORIO' and colorful floral design.
Bedroom with wooden floor, stone accent wall, bed with black and white bedding, and a window with a plant outside.
A bedroom with white walls and a wooden floor, featuring a bed with a geometric patterned duvet, dark pillows, a small blue rug, a beige bench with pillows, a window with a plant, and closets and a bathroom door in the background.
A white tiled walk-in shower with a showerhead and a soap dish with a hanging scrub brush and towel
Modern bathroom with a double vanity, black cabinets, white countertop, three mirrors, and a walk-in shower with a glass door and white tile walls.
A modern bedroom with white walls, wooden floors, a bed with gray and white striped bedding, and decorative pillows. There are two floral-patterned pillows, a black rectangular pillow, and a black pillow on the bed. A window with three sections shows
Bright living room with a large window, gray sofa with colorful pillows, a beige rug, a small black table with a lamp and mirror, and framed wall art, hardwood floors, and trees outside the window.
Modern bathroom with a bathtub, toilet, wooden vanity with double sinks, large mirrors, and a decorative curtain.
Entryway with black and white patterned floor tiles, a staircase with dark wood steps and railing, a yellow double door, and a white wall with an exit sign and fire alarm.
A stone building facade with an ornate arched doorway featuring bright orange double doors, surrounded by a decorative stone frame. There are four narrow windows with white frames, two on each side of the entrance, and three black outdoor lights moun
Parking lot with covered parking spaces and several parked cars in front of a modern stone building with multiple windows and a distinctive orange door, under a clear blue sky.
A modern multi-story building with stone and metal exterior, large windows, and balconies, situated on a city street with parked cars and small trees, under a clear blue sky.
Backyard garden with a concrete pathway, garden beds, a wooden fence, and a stone residential building in the background under a clear blue sky.