Gemma Services is breathing new life into a well-known Plymouth Meeting property, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The nonprofit is converting the former headquarters of medical device research nonprofit ECRI into a brand-new campus for its Martin Luther School, a private K-12 school offering individualized programs for students with emotional and behavioral needs.
The $52 million project will relocate the school from its current site on West Township Line Road to a 20-acre property at 5200 Butler Pike by 2026. The new 80,000-square-foot space will house more than 30 classrooms, plus a new addition featuring a black box theater, gymnasium, and library.
“There’s something about this campus and building that I think is going to contribute to a real sense of pride and where they go to school,” said Kristen Gay, CEO of Gemma Services.
Gemma is funding the project through a mix of a $3 million capital campaign (already more than halfway there), loans, potential local support, and a major grant from the Gemma Foundation.
Martin Luther School, currently serving 230 students from 40 districts, will grow to over 350 at the new site. The school just celebrated a milestone: its first graduating high school class.
To learn more about the upcoming campus and Gemma’s plans, visit the Philadelphia Business Journal.
