Charter High School for Architecture + Design

Curious students...engaged faculty...and a compelling mission. The Charter High School for Architecture + Design is a learning community committed to providing an innovative program of study that integrates the design process with the mastery of a strong liberal arts education. The school offers each student the opportunity for success and the preparation for life-long learning and responsible citizenship. CHAD is a thoughtful academic environment that engenders a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and new ways of seeing, while preparing students for higher education.

CHAD was founded in 1999 by the American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter, as the Legacy Project for the AIA National Convention held in Philadelphia in May, 2000. Located at 7th and Sansom Streets in Center City, the school is a 26,000 sf building within close proximity to Independence Mall, Washington Square Park, and the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (a private architectural library). The first charter school of its kind in the country, CHAD opened its doors to approximately 400 students in grades 9 through 11 in September, 1999, and graduated its first class of 49 seniors in June, 2001. Today, it enrolls over 500 students.