A Look Back at 2025
As we reflect on the past year, we are grateful for the opportunity to engage in a wide range of meaningful work alongside our clients, partners, and collaborators. This year brought many exciting projects, with work advancing across every stage of design and construction, from early planning and concept development through construction completion. Along the way, our work was recognized with several awards, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to thoughtful, responsible design and to the communities and institutions we serve.
Recently Completed Projects
This year marked the milestone completion of a number of projects, including the major renovation and restoration of the historic Lansdowne Theater in Lansdowne, PA. Designed by noted theater architect William Harold Lee. Opened in 1927, the National Register–listed building had remained vacant for decades following a 1987 fire. Working with the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation and Materials Conservation, AOS led the restoration of the theater’s exterior and interior, returning the 1,400-seat auditorium, lobby, and public spaces to their historic character while adding new performance support spaces to support its renewed role as a cultural anchor for the community.
Other work completed in 2025 includes the new Connelly Wellness Center at Archbishop John Carroll High School, renovated lobby and exhibition space for Science History Institute and a new academic facility for Paul Robeson Charter School.
Lansdowne Theater, Photo by Peter Woodall
Connelly Wellness Center at Archbishop John Carroll High School, Photo by Greg Benson Photography
Honors and Awards
This year, many of our projects were also recognized for their excellence in design and construction, including work at YouthBuild Philadelphia, Stouffer Hall at the University of Pennsylvania, the Academy of Music, and Allentown Arts Park Pavilion.
Most notably, our work on West Wing of the University of Pennsylvania’s College Hall received an AIA Philadelphia Honor Award, a Cast Stone Institute Design & Craftsmanship Excellence Award in Restoration, and a GBCA Excellence in Craftsmanship award.
College Hall, the first building constructed on the University of Pennsylvania’s West Philadelphia campus and a National Register–listed landmark, serves as the historic and symbolic heart of the University. AOS developed a comprehensive restoration master plan in 2017 to address the building’s deteriorated serpentine stone, improve the building envelope, and upgrade interior, mechanical, and life safety systems. The multi-phase project included exterior stone and roof restoration, rehabilitation of 344 historic windows, and a full renovation of the West Wing to support academic, administrative, and accessibility needs—ensuring College Hall’s continued prominence in the campus community.
We are also proud to be one of the few firms to receive AIA Pennsylvania EPiC Firm Recognition for nine consecutive years, reflecting the firm’s ongoing commitment to supporting young professionals.
AIA Philadelphia Design Awards 2025, Photo by Flicker + Elm Photography
College Hall, University of Pennsylvania, Photo by Halkin Mason Photography