Within two years of acquiring the Bok Building in 2015, developer Lindsey Scannapieco had a moment when she overheard a group of people raving about her work transforming the shuttered high school.
The former South Philadelphia high school is now a collaborative workspace for several local artists, makers, small businesses, and nonprofits with a rooftop bar.
Now about a decade later, Scannapieco is working to bring a new level of vibrancy to South Broad Street near University of the Arts‘ former campus, writes Emily Goulet for Philadelphia Magazine.
When UArts abruptly closed in June 2024, Scannapieco and her development and design firm, Scout, won a bid to acquire several of the school’s former buildings.
“I still cannot believe we got this project,” said Scannapieco. “I cannot believe this is a reality.”
This new project to transform Broad Street is called Village of Industry & Art.
Its mission is to breathe new life into the space through art, creativity, and culture.
This project follows the blueprint Scannapieco and her team set with Bok to make the building more attractive for a wide array of tenants.
While aware of the reality of the city’s dwindling creative vibrancy due to lack of funding, Scannapieco remains hopeful her vision can create a new reality.
Read more about Lindsey Scannapieco and her development of new spaces in the city in Philadelphia Magazine.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2026.
