Connelly House

Philadelphia, PA

Project HOME and Bethesda Project partnered with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to develop Connelly House, a multi-use building that provides supportive housing and program space for formerly homeless individuals. The project required integration of residential units, social services, and parish functions within a constrained urban site. O Z Collaborative designed an eight-story building with 79 units of affordable housing, including a mix of single-room occupancy units and studio apartments. The design organizes residential spaces alongside program areas that support counseling, community interaction, and daily living.

Each organization has dedicated spaces, including communal living and dining areas, meeting rooms, and offices, while shared amenities include a central lobby, multipurpose room, and fitness space. The building also includes a new parish center for St. John the Evangelist Church. To address site constraints and construction costs, the design incorporates prefabricated exterior wall panels and a façade composed to provide visual variation through massing and window placement. The project provides stable housing and integrated services, supporting residents as they transition to independence while strengthening connections between partner organizations and the surrounding community.

Project HOME & Bethesda Project

Photographed by Don Pearse

<  Cultural & Civic

The image shows a city alleyway with motorcycles and bicycles parked along the sides. On the right side, there is a modern building with a large vertical red sign reading 'CONNELLY HOUSE' and a smaller red sign with the same name at the entrance. The
Exterior view of Connelly House, a modern multi-story building with numerous small windows, a red canopy with the name, and a glass entrance door, illuminated from inside at dusk.
A city street scene with older brick buildings in the foreground and modern skyscrapers in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Lobby area with a reception desk, mailboxes, stained glass windows, and a quote on the wall that reads 'Who says you can't go home? -Jon Bon Jovi'.
Modern hospital lobby with reception desk, elevator doors, stained glass art, teal and black walls, and a patterned bench.
A communal lounge area with a long table and chairs, a seating area with sofas and a flat-screen TV, and computer stations along the wall. The room has pastel-colored walls, framed artwork, and a window with blinds.
Kitchen with wooden cabinets, black stove, microwave, toaster, paper towel roll, and glassware. Adjacent room with dresser, window, electronic keyboard, and bed with patterned blanket.
Gym room with treadmill and elliptical machines, green wall with sports posters, ceiling lights, and gray carpeted floor.
Empty conference room with a large wooden table surrounded by black chairs, with a vase of flowers and potted plant on the table, large windows with blinds, and a ceiling-mounted projector.
View from inside a modern building with large glass windows, showing outdoor patio tables and chairs, surrounding tall city buildings, and a clear sky.
A modern rooftop with outdoor seating, surrounded by tall glass and brick buildings on a clear sunny day.
A rooftop patio with outdoor tables and chairs enclosed by a black metal fence, adjacent to a modern white building with red accents, on a background of taller office buildings with glass windows.
An industrial mechanical room with white pipes, air conditioning units, and equipment, including a Carrier HVAC system, with a gray concrete floor and a white ceiling with ductwork.
An industrial utility room with various pipes, valves, and equipment including HVAC units and water filtration systems.