Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy, historic school building in the Rittenhouse Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, United States
The Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy is a three-story brick building with Art Deco style in Philadelphia, designed by architect Georgina Pope Yeatman and constructed in 1930. The structure features a U-shaped footprint and displays decorative ironwork and carved sandstone details on its facade.
The occupational therapy school was founded in 1918 and was one of the first five such schools in the country, training women as Reconstruction Aides to assist wounded soldiers after World War I. A third floor was added in 1939 to meet the growing needs of the institution.
The building carries the name of the occupational therapy school that trained women to assist wounded soldiers after World War I, establishing an important role for women in healthcare. The Rittenhouse Square West neighborhood around it blends historic structures with active shops and cafes, preserving this legacy today.
The building is now divided into apartments and located in an active neighborhood with easy access to shops and cafes. The historic facade is clearly visible from the street, allowing visitors to examine the brickwork and sandstone carving details up close.
Architect Georgina Pope Yeatman was one of only four licensed female architects in Pennsylvania when she designed this building and later became the first woman to hold a top architecture position for the city of Philadelphia. Her influence appears in the carefully crafted decorative details throughout the structure.
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