Temple University sought to restore the historic Broad Street presence of the Old Dental School building while improving accessibility, energy performance, and the visitor experience for the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry. Originally constructed in the 1930s as a Packard Motorcar showroom, the building occupies a prominent location along Temple’s urban campus. Over time, however, the aging façade and deteriorating windows no longer reflected the university’s identity or the importance of the School of Dentistry. Temple engaged O Z Collaborative to develop a renovation strategy that would preserve the building’s historic character while introducing contemporary performance and accessibility improvements.

The design team replaced the deteriorated third- and fourth-floor double-hung windows with energy-efficient single-hung units carefully detailed to maintain the building’s historic profile. On the first and second floors, the team introduced a new curtain wall system that integrates transparent glazing with solid stone panels, restoring clarity and rhythm to the street façade. A custom spandrel glass band incorporates a frit pattern inspired by the Temple Owl logo, subtly reinforcing the University’s identity while adding visual depth to the façade.

Inside, the lobby was transformed into a brighter and more welcoming entry space. New finishes, lighting,and a new reception desk that anchors the lobby, improve accessibility and circulation while creating a more comfortable environment for students, faculty, and visitors. Together, these improvements restore the architectural presence of the Old Dental School building while creating a contemporary gateway for the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry.