Ahmadiyya Mosque

Philadelphia, PA

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community sought to establish a permanent place of worship in Philadelphia that could support its growing congregation and provide a visible presence within the city. O Z Collaborative designed a 21,500-square-foot mosque on a former industrial site, creating the first purpose-built and publicly visible mosque in Philadelphia. The two-story building includes separate prayer halls for men and women, a multi-purpose hall, a full-service kitchen, and a private residence for the Imam. The design organizes these spaces to support both religious practice and community use. Circulation systems provide equal access to shared amenities while maintaining visual separation between genders in accordance with Muslim tradition.

A 56-foot-tall minaret, inspired by the White Minaret in Qadian, India, serves as a defining architectural element and establishes the building’s identity within the neighborhood. The project provides a permanent home for worship while supporting education, gathering, and community engagement.

Photographed by Matt Wargo

< Cultural & Civic

Exterior of a mosque with a light-colored brick facade, domes, and a minaret, illuminated at dusk with parking in the foreground.

A building resembling a mosque with a large dome and a minaret, against a partly cloudy sky, with a parking lot in front and a few disabled parking spaces.

A beige brick building with arched windows and modern glass extensions, topped with a small turret, under a blue sky with clouds, surrounded by small bushes and trees.

A beige church with arched windows, a tall minaret, and a black metal fence in front, under a partly cloudy sky.

Interior view of a prayer hall with blue patterned carpet, white walls, arched windows, a large blue oval ceiling feature, and Islamic calligraphy signs.

Interior staircase area with wooden double doors, black and white floor tiles, a large window with a chandelier, and an exit sign above the door.

Interior view of a building lobby with an illuminated blue ceiling featuring Arabic calligraphy and a clock on the wall.

Empty prayer room with blue patterned carpet, light blue walls, two small windows with gold valances, a central blue ceiling dome with Arabic script, and an elevated area with a sign and podium.