Bok Yearbook 2022

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2022 this year at bok

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tenants 32 community & events

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rooftop 66

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Bok is a historic former school that has been sensitively adapted into a vital part of the Philadelphia creative landscape. Today, the 340,000 sq ft building is home to over 200 makers, non-profits, and small businesses ranging from jewelry makers to video production studios, from a private school for contemporary realist art to a wellness center serving immigrants and refugees.

Bok is a place of imagination, sweat, enthusiasm, and opportunity. If laid out horizontally, the building would occupy nine city blocks — a

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7th floor hallway turned Studio Incamminati Opposite page: Chemistry lab turned Diadora

neighborhood by any right — which embodies as much diversity as the community it serves.

Over 600 people work at Bok on a daily basis, and we host upwards of 300 events here each year.

The rooftop bar attracts more than 75,000 visitors every season, with another 30,000 attending events hosted in the building.

In 2022, the world turned a corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, and we saw a collective return to some semblance of normalcy. It was an exciting year for Bok as we grew to reach 100% occupancy — an incredible achievement

over seven years in the making. We welcomed some wonderful new additions to the building including Greenly Plant Co, The Bowery Presents, You Wraps, Pet Riso (born from our 2021 project at the PHS Flower Show), U90 Soccer Center, Baby Tooth and many others.

In addition to wonderful people, we also added some exciting new infrastructure including a new ADA entrance on Dudley Street, high speed internet by PhillyWisper, and a total rebuild of our center elevator.

Here’s a look back at 2022, our seventh year reimagining Bok...

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24% 70% of the building is leased to non-profits

Independence Hall

of the building is occupied by artists, makers, and creatives

Bok

City Hall

348,000 ft

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27%

Minority-owned businesses in Bok

of building space

55%

Womanowned businesses in Bok

Compared to

23%

Minority-owned businesses in Pennsylvania

19%

Compared to Woman-owned businesses in Philadelphia

50%

of businesses started in a home office or studio

66%

46%

of tenants live in South Philadelphia

of businesses are under 5 years old

21,521ft

How big are our tenants’ spaces?

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largest tenant space

<1k ft2

52 ft

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smallest tenant space

1-2.5k ft2 2.5k ft2

“The Bok Building was my first introduction to Philly when FABSCRAP moved in and it was such a welcoming and exciting space to come into. It has been wonderful to be surrounded by so many creative people and it is like no other building I have worked in!”

Lindsey Troop, Fabscrap

“The raw, industrial quality of Bok’s work spaces is a testament to the careful curatorial work that Scout has done to incorporate functional modern work spaces with the building’s vintage interior.”

34th Street Magazine

“The Wyss Wellness Center is proud to provide care to some of the most vulnerable immigrant communities living in Philadelphia.

The Bok Building has an ideal location as it has provided a safe space for our patients, as well as the surrounding community.”

Marc Altshuler, MD Jefferson Center for Refugee Health

“BOK is a vertical village: miles and miles of art, industry, craft, hospitality, and services under one roof. So many of us lived and worked in South Philly for over a decade behind closed doors, in isolation. Bok became our nexus, linking skills, tools, ideas, and people across a community of dozens, then hundreds.”

Avigail Milder, Milder Furniture

“We love our home at Bok...

The opportunities to collaborate are endless. We partner with other tenants to create internships and learning experiences for our participants. We deliver programs at the local schools. We support our neighbors by purchasing food and furniture whenever we can. As one team member put it, ‘If only they had apartments, I would never leave!’”

Dena Herrin, Girls Inc.

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Bok has a dedicated team of professionals who work hard to maintain this massive and majestic old building.

1 Chris Daye Floor Supervisor

2 Frank Stephan Maintenance Supervisor

3 Genise Deal Ambassador

4 George Toy Facilities

5 Jermaine Young Facilities Supervisor

6 Ken Wylie Facilities

7 Lionel Rice Facilities

8 Matt Ober Lead Ambassador

9 Ralph Coco Facilities

10 Ralph Simmons Facilities

11 Robert Boone Ambassador

12 Robert Moore Facilities

13 Steve Sabulsky Facilities Director 11

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scout

Scout is an urban development and design practice reimagining how once neglected places can be transformed into vibrant and unexpected spaces. With a diverse mix of expertise— from design and planning to project management and community engagement—we bring a thoughtful pragmatism to our work.

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1 Brogan Austin Events Manager

2 Cacie Rosario Marketing & Communications Manager

3 Christine Hassinger Project Researcher

4 Danielle DeMuro Bookkeeper

5 Everett Abitbol Director of Development & Hospitality

6 Hannah Baker Leasing & Operations Administrator

7 Jackie Rush Director of Operations & Building Community

8 Julie Guinto Community Engagement & Events Coordinator

9 Lexi Webster Architecture Intern

10 Lindsey Scannapieco Managing Partner

11 Liz Maillie Director of Leasing & Marketing

12 Wayne Woodward Operations & Leasing Coordinator

13 Sarah Woods Events Assistant 13

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this year @ bok

100% full but never finished, we’re proud of the milestones reached this year.

1 WKSHP renovation complete

2 Reached 100% occupancy

3 Partnered with PhillyWisper

What was once a neglected back door to the building has been transformed into the bustling main entrance to Bok. The WKSHP, originally the auto-body shop during Bok’s Vo Tech days, is now home to a collection of food offerings and carefully curated retail business, including a ceramics studio, a print shop, and a bicycle repair shop.

2022 kicked off with the opening of the last WKSHP space, Machine Shop’s retail bakery, which attracted a loyal following along with national attention, being named a 2022 Best New Restaurant by Eater.

Seven years after we began a phased redevelopment of the building and welcomed our first tenants, the building celebrated 100% occupancy when The Bowery Presents moved into our last available space, the former cafeteria kitchen.

With 200 tenants across nine floors of the building, we grappled with new challenges like addressing electrical load issues, but we also took the annual year-end party to new levels with karaoke in the auditorium.

PhillyWisper became both a tenant and a new independent Internet Service Provider at Bok. Their point-topoint radio antennas on our 9th floor terrace broadcast affordable WiFi to thousands of families and businesses in South Philly, providing a low-cost alternative to the other internet service providers.

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bok projects From patching walls to flower patches, no task was too big or too small for our team.

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1 Irwin’s Bar Renovations

2 PHS Flower Show

The bar at Irwin’s was fully remodeled, offering guests a front row seat to the best views in town.

At this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show in FDR Park, we collaborated with Bok tenant Sabbatical Beauty and Philly-based artist Carl Durkow (a former tenant!) on The Smelly Tunnel, a playful and sensory installation. Visitors passed through essential oil misting gateways, watering themselves like a flower. This interactive piece engaged all the senses, highlighted the healing power plants, and encouraged everyone to embrace their inner child.

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3 Dudley Street Entrance Improvements Our main entrance on Dudley Street was revamped with an ADA compliant lift, a custom chandelier made from construction materials, and shiny new planters, which are lovingly cared for by longtime facilities team member, George.

4 Updated Wayfinding We seriously stepped up our signage game with a little help from our friends and Bok tenant, Smith & Diction.

5 Auditiorium Facelift Our historic Art Deco auditorium got a makeover thanks to Bok tenant, Klip Collective.

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awards + recognitions We’re impressed with our tenants, and it turns out the world is, too. Here are some of the accolades they racked up last year. re : cogn ition Dezeen Awards Architecture / Rebirth Project: Longlist

Philly Mag 100 Most Influential People in Philadelphia

Bok Out of over 5,400 entries from 90 countries, Bok was one of 28 projects longlisted in the Rebirth Project: Architecture category (and one of only two US projects recognized)

Saeed Ferguson of All Caps Studio

Bon Appétit 10 Best New Restaurants in America in 2022

Maori Karmael Holmes of BlackStar Projects

Food & Wine Best New Chefs 2022 Emily Riddell of Machine Shop Boulangerie

Irwin’s

Eater 15 Best New Restaurants of 2022

Girls Inc. 20th Annual Strong, Smart, and Bold Celebration Community Impact Award

AIA Philadelphia 2022 Philadelphia Emerging Architecture Prize Award

Lindsey Scannapieco

Machine Shop Boulangerie

Gnome Architects

Philly Mag Best of Philly 2022 Best Film Ambassador: Maori Holmes of BlackStar Projects Best Luxe Facial: Franklin’s Secret at W Philadelphia Away Spa (collab between W Philadelphia and Franklin & Whitman)

2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist: Outstanding Baker Rhonda Saltzman and Mercedes Brooks of Second Daughter Baking Co.

this year @ bok

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“We don’t know how else to say this, but Irwin’s is going to make you want to rip your clothes off... Blame the combo of comforting but stylized Sicilian dishes [...] and the eighth-floor Bok Building views of South Philly.

No other restaurant feels this sexy right now.

“Standing amid the remnants of a once– abandoned school, the building is now a vibrant mecca of entrepreneurship.”

“A plate of chewy hand-rolled twists of trofie pasta; a cold glass of fizzy biodynamic wine; a seat on the [Irwin’s] rooftop terrace watching the sun set over Center City.

Heaven.”

buzz about: bok BOK & BOK EVENTS

BOK BAR

IRWIN’S

2022 Dezeen Awards Longlisted - Rebirth Project

7 spring things to do in Philly

Bon Appétit’s 10 Best New Restaurants 202

Bok Is Bigger Than a Building

Bok Bar in South Philly to reopen for its seventh season in April

The No-B.S. Guide to Getting Into Philly’s Busiest Restaurants

Bok opens its studios for tours

Bok Bar Returns with New Chef Residency Series

The Absolute Best Mediterranean Restaurants In The US

Bok Building hosting Candlelight Concert series featuring tributes to Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and classic rock

45 of the best things to do in Philly this weekend and next week

The First-Time Visitor’s Guide to Dining in Philadelphia

After seven years, South Philadelphia’s 338,000SF Bok building is 98% leased

Colorful Drink Cards Brought a Playful Twist to This Bok Building Micro-Wedding

this year @ bok

From design to food and festivities, the Bok team grabbed headlines in 2022.

Philly’s Best Kid-Friendly Beer Gardens

The Best Things To Do & Eat During Philly Pride Month Best Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Philadelphia

Kalaya and Mike’s BBQ Team Up for a Thai BBQ Brisket Sandwich

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“You can’t have a conversation about vintage in Philadelphia without discussing Keesean Moore’s design library.”

“Every plate that hits the table [at Irwin’s]... positively sings”

“Machine Shop embodies high standards of excellence without any of the pretension. It’s just how we do things in Philly.”

buzz about: bok tenants Our tenants really know how to get the town talking! Here are just a handful of the local and national media mentions Bok businesses received this year.

ALL CAPS STUDIO

BANDIT

ComplexLand Brands to Watch: ALL CAPS STUDIO Wants to Promote Growth and Positivity Through Clothing

South Philly vegan cheesemaker gets a new cheese cave and more thanks to a $1.5 million VC investment

ARS NOVA WORKSHOP

BASE BUTTER

Rising star sax player Immanuel Wilkins returns to Philly to celebrate the release of his thrilling 2nd album

February’s Libra Horoscope Is Here, and Crushes Are Coming Your Way

AUBREY LEVINTHAL Figuration Is the Art of Our Era for a Simple Reason: Because Artists Are Painting ‘What They Love’

‘GMA’ Deals & Steals on Black-owned businesses, plus Valentine’s Day favorites

BLACKSTAR

FABSCRAP

The Biggest Events and Festivals in Greater Philadelphia for 2022

Finding Wonder in Textile Wast

Watch These SundanceSupported Films at the 2022 BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia At the BlackStar Film Festival, a Revelatory Understanding of Cinema

CAGE Arts groups call on Philly to help out with pandemic relief funds

How 3 Clothing Processers Are Reducing Textile Waste

Sustainable companies combat the carbon footprint of fast fashion

FOREVER VALENTINE BEAUTY The Ultimate Guide to Beauty Treatments in Philadelphia: The Price of Beauty

FRANKLIN AND WHITMAN

Divine Preservation

These 8 Just-Launched Skincare, Makeup, and Hair Products Are Already Trending on Amazon

DESIGN MANIFEST

GIRLS’ INC.

DEACON HOSPITALITY GROUP

A 1920s East Passyunk Rowhome Gets a Colorful Makeover

DNA FLORAL These are the Black-owned beauty brands you should try ASAP

“Ferguson’s All Caps Studio style is just as sunny as he is; it won’t be long before the rest of the world knows about him, too.”

The 17 best places to buy flowers in Philadelphia

Construction camp teaches young girls in Philadelphia region about careers in the trades

KG STRONG

REMARK GLASS

SECOND DAUGHTER

THE WELCOMING CENTER

43 of the best things to do in Philly this weekend and next week

From landfill to work of art: Glass gets new life at South Philadelphia small business

Philly Nabs 11 Semifinalist Nominations for the 2022 James Beard Awards

The Welcoming Center presents its 19th annual Solas Awards

KLIP COLLECTIVE

Grant from Manufacturing PA Initiative to improve glass recycling technology

Chef’s Table with bakers Rhonda Saltzman and Mercedes Brooks

Mexican American bicycle ‘lowriders’ celebrate festive Memorial Day weekend on two (and sometimes three) wheels

ROOM SHOP New ‘Dreamlike’ Show Lets You See Nashville Zoo Like Never Before

The Loveliest Valentine’s Day Accessories

A toast to Philadelphia’s girl bosses, entrepreneurs and women business owners

Meet The Kidcore Stylist Who’s A “Sustainable Maximalist”

STREETS DEPT

LOBO MAU

SABBATICAL BEAUTY

From Trash to Treasure

To do this week: Celebrate Women’s History Month

Philly Arts and Music Fest is coming to the Navy Yard this fall

Taking the Museum Experience Outdoors

MACHINE SHOP If You Can’t Go to France, Go to Machine Shop Boulangerie in South Philly Instead

Food & Wine Best New Chefs 2022: Emily Riddell

A New Acupuncture Practice Just Opened in Fishtown

How to Use Gua Sha to Supercharge Your At-Home Skincare Routine

Meet the leaders advancing The Promise’s mission to lift Philadelphians out of poverty

SYMONE SALIB Amid pandemic, student participation crucial in Central Montco Technical High School mural project

Altar created in South Philly in honor of Día de los Muertos

U90 A soccer field is coming to the roof of the Bok building this fall

Bok Building to open rooftop soccer field with goal of increasing community sports centers

WYSS WELLNESS CENTER Language barriers, bias, and cultural differences hinder access to health care for Asian Philadelphians

A big tribute and dance party for Philly to celebrate what Selena means to them

MOORE VINTAGE The best vintage clothing stores in Philadelphia

MURAL ARTS This city has more than 4,000 murals—and counting

Where to Explore Latino Art in Philadelphia

See the best street art in these 10 cities across the country

PAST PRESENT PROJECTS The Sachs Program celebrates fifth year of supporting arts innovation at Penn

“[Second Daughter has] the best (and most famous!) brownies in the city. They’re simple, yet perfect.”

“Holmes [of BlackStar] is the rare triple-threat cinephile.”

“[Base Butter] has a solution for all and a unique roster of products that exemplify top quality and attention to detail.”

“Klip’s installations are dynamic, layered transformations of architecture and nature into largescale, visual, and auditory artworks.”

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this year @ bok

Night Forms: dreamloop by Klip Collective transforms Grounds for Sculpture landscape

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The basement fan room turned You Wraps large format print shop

leasing After 7 years of carrying out construction parallel to leasing, 2022 brought two major milestones: the completion of construction on tenant spaces and 100% occupancy. In similar buildings, reaching full occupancy typically signals completion. However at Bok we will never be finished — we are a living, breathing and constantly evolving community.

We will always have areas of the building that are less finished, ensuring we retain and continue to attract those who prioritize affordability over Class A amenity.

We continue to look at opportunities for responding to need by reconsidering how space is used, whether that’s converting an old mechanical room in the

basement for Bottle Underground’s processing center and an old fan room for You Wraps’ print shop, or renting an underutilized meeting room to The Craftship or carving out a corner of the WKSHP for Pet Riso. We support flexible lease terms which means the building and community inside will remain porous, allowing new members to join and others to transition beyond the walls of Bok. We will remain nimble and responsive to tenants’ needs to expand or contract with us. We learn something new from this building every day and we look forward to seeing what lessons 2023 brings.

BEFORE

this year @ bok AFTER

The cafeteria kitchen turned The Bowery Presents

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The boy’s gymnasium turned event space

BEFORE

this year @ bok AFTER

The cosmetology classroom turned Fringe Hair Salon

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The 8th floor roof turned Irwin’s

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this year @ bok AFTER

The home economics classroom turned Room Shop

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tenants

tenants

seniors Abby Schwartz Associates AJ Clarinets Amazulu Ars Nova Workshop

Art Sphere Big Sound & Braxton Guitars Blair Brothers Music Bok Bar

Bottle Underground CAGE Cheyne Rood Chris Reed

Colin M. Lenton Photography David Guinn David Morgan David Pap

Done & Dusted Donna Wells Emily Eichelberger Feb 31st

5 years or more at BOK

seniors Federation of Neighborhood Centers Firth & Wilson Transport Cycles Forever Valentine Beauty Forever Valentine Tattoo

Franklin and Whitman Fringe Salon Garces Foundation Glenn Kellum

Isaac Lin Jason Forrest Jessica Saint Beauty

KG Strong Klip Collective Kyle Cook Laos in the House

Lauren Lyles Leslie Abend Lobo Mau Machine Shop Boulangerie

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tenants

Gnome Architects

seniors Madlab Entertainment Mallory Weston Mangrove Media Melanie Bilenker

Maria Eife Matt Stanley Photo Milder Furniture Miles Table

Philadelphia Printworks Phillips Black Project P.L.A.Y. School Remark Glass

Revival Letterpress Ryan Johnson Sam Oberter Photography Squidynamite

Scout Shira Walinsky Studio Kitchen Consulting Steve Boyle Photo

5 years or more at BOK

seniors StevieChris Photography Stover Ceramics Thom Lessner Toner Architects

Vivas Music

tenants

Milder Furniture

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juniors 1HP Entertainment Andrew Mead, Ben Sibley, Cory Popp Arsenal Mediaworks Aubrie Costello

Apostrophe Technologies Beehive @ Bok Bevy of Objects BiFocal Creative

Bike and Build BlackStar Projects Caitlin McCormack Caroline Kunka

The Challenge Program Crisco & Frisco Danielle Siegelbaum Design Manifest

Diadora U.S. Dragonfly Audio Post Echo Metals Elliot Reynolds

3-5 years at BOK

juniors Ellyse Bendillo Highline James Dybvig Jeff Rubio

Kara Howland Design Kate Dannenburg Marcelino Stuhmer Mt. Airy Custom Furniture

Myriad Magnetic NaturAll Ohm Family Chiropractic

Peter Brown Studio PhilaTuner Rebecca Asch Redshift

RGA Associates Rider Ceramics Roantree Weavers Robert Boone

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tenants

My ND Integrative Health

juniors Room Shop Sabbatical Beauty Salomon Photography Scale Design Group

Scipio’s Commercial Cleaning Smith & Diction Streets Dept.

Sweetwater Portraits

T. Kahres Jewelry Texture Florals The Tiny Jeweler Two Persons

Wag Days The Water Trust Weaver House Wyss Wellness Center

3-5 years at BOK

juniors

tenants

Sabbatical Beauty, Ohm Family Chiropractic

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sophomores 12th Glow Alex Wasseman ALLCAPS STUDIO Amy Novinski

Anthony DeMelas Aubrey Levinthal Aubrey Mascali Bandit

BASE BUTTER Black Cat Design House Bryan Kentner Cannuscio Rader Family Foundation

Christina Griffin Jewelry David Campbell Days Away Creative Deacon Hospitality Group

Dindga McCannon DNA Floral Dutch Label Shop Elizabeth Bergeland

1-3 years at BOK

sophomores Eric Karnes FABSCRAP Ficks Music Four/Ten Media

Girls Inc. Hold Etc. Holly Simple Studio Jack Kubizne

Jeffrey Maki Jennifer Riley KNE Companies

Lace in the Moon Lea Colie Wight Linda Dennin Lynn Snyder

Minimal Chaos Moore Vintage Mural Arts Philadelphia & Southeast by Southeast Nat Fry Woodworking

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tenants

Jacob Zelenkofske

sophomores Out&Back Past Present Projects Rachel Pierson Art Rapport Communications

Rohe Creative Ruth Feldman Sammy Kovnat Sarah Rachel Brown

Second Daughter Baking Co. Shira Friedman Sierra Barela Studio 1935

Studio Bladel Studio Incamminati Surry Hills Stones Symone Salib

Theodore A. Harris Tony Havrilla U90 Uh-Huh Art Objects

1-3 years at BOK

sophomores WebShop GiftShop WC Pottery Wild Chairy Yamanya Natural

tenants

Elizabeth Bergeland

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freshmen Alejandro Escobar Alyssa Liles-Amponsah Amy Swanepoel & Ben Reiley Baby Tooth

Bok Events The Bowery Presents The Craftship George Murphy

Gladney Hall Greenly Plant Co. Gregory Hanson Gustavo Prado

Haiama Beauty Co. Irwin’s Jason Killinger Jessica Lawrence

Jolie Ngo Katrina Sorrentino Kinfolk Bride Kirby Lowenstein

1 year or less at BOK

freshmen Nazeer Sabree Horner Nicole Aro Pet Riso Studio PhillyWisper

Rachel Shelar Ugly Art Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians You Wraps

tenants

You Wraps

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where are they now?

We’re always sad to see our tenants go, but we love to see them spread their wings in new and exciting ways!

tenants

1 Moore Vintage

2 Nat Fry Woodworking

3 BASE BUTTER

4 Peter Brown Studio

Moore Vintage Archive, founded in 2014 by Keesean Moore, is a design library and store specializing in designer vintage womenswear. In November of 2022, Keesean relocated his store to the iconic Fabric Row on 4th Street, where he’ll continue to rework vintage and rare iconic fashion labels.

In June of 2022, Nat Fry relocated his Bokbased woodworking shop to a renovated barn in Willistown, PA. Nat continues to engineer unique pieces of furniture that are personal and meaningful.

BASE BUTTER founder She’Neil Spence welcomed baby Zachary “Tre” Cortez Spence III on February 7, 2022. On the business side, BASE BUTTER decided to give their team time to reflect as they get ready for the next chapter in 2023.

Peter Brown, author and illustrator of many bestselling children’s books, moved to Newcastle, Maine, where he released a new picture book called Creepy Crayon!

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tenant impact Our tenant community never fails to amaze us with their incredible work. Here are some highlights from 2022.

1 Bottle Underground Sister organization of Remark Glass, Bottle Underground strives to reduce glass waste and to make the best use of bottle glass through recirculation, recycling, downcycling, and upcycling. In 2022, the nonprofit diverted 100,000 lbs of glass from the waste stream, reused 3,000 jars as packaging for local small businesses, facilitated replanting 30,000 lbs of crushed glass sand with compost, and upcycled 5,000 pieces of glass into home goods.

2 Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey 2022 was a year of growth and transition at Girls Inc. The organization launched a paid internship program for high school juniors and seniors, many of which worked with Bok tenants.

Another success was their initiative to build awareness and address period poverty, created by the organization’s high school leadership program.

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3 Wyss Wellness Center

4 FABSCRAP

The Wyss client population grew to 3,000 in 2022 and included many Hispanic, Latino, and southeast Asian immigrants along with a large refugee population and many other individuals and families from the South Philly area. The Center also carried out domestic medical exams for a large number of recent Afghan refugees, many of whom still go to Wyss for primary care.

2022 was Fabscrap’s first full year in operation at their Philadelphia location. With the help of 1,755 volunteers, they sorted 72,000lbs of fabric since opening their doors at Bok. They welcomed 1,800 shoppers and sold or gave away 19,000 lbs of fabric originally destined for landfills. The organization also worked with 27 Philadelphiabased companies to keep their waste out of landfills, including Bok tenants like Room Shop Vintage and Philadelphia Printworks!

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The Garces Foundation is a community-based, nonprofit organization committed to providing Philadelphia’s immigrant population with healthcare, education, and support. 88% of their families have an annual household income of less than $25,000, and more than 65% of their students are women.

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New to the WKSHP in 2022, Baby Tooth carries goods by local Philly artists and makers. The retail shop raised over $4,500 by donating a portion of all their sales to Homies Helping Homies, a community mutual aid initiative focused on food and household item distribution in South Philly’s Point Breeze neighborhood.

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7 KG Strong

8 Art Sphere Inc.

In 2022, KG Strong raised over $5,000 for local non-profits. Much of this was generated with proceeds from their Bok Rooftop Yoga Program. This year, proceeds supported Uplift, SEAMAAC, Covenant House, YSRP, Friends and Neighbors of Southwark, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Emily’s Entourage.

Art Sphere provided free arts classes to over 1,100 youth in local recreation centers and schools in 2022. The organization links art to music, dance, and even outer space to open up new horizons. Thanks to over 300 volunteers, Art Sphere has online video courses, lesson plan books, and hundreds of educational handouts available for free on their website.

9 The Federation of Neighborhood Centers (FNC) FNC designed their Working for Success Program to help young people achieve their dream careers by placing them in paid internships.

In 2022, FNC placed 60 interns in their desired fields across the city (a new record!). Their internships range from HIV/AIDS advocacy to filmmaking. Over 3,500 hours were worked by their interns, and FNC paid out $53,347 in wages.

tenants

tenant impact 10 The Welcoming Center The Welcoming Center is a non-profit that works to support immigrant entrepreneurs and professionals. Their Bok hub is specifically focused on supporting entrepreneur crafts people looking to sell their goods to the world.

In 2022, The Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia hosted 200 people for their Taco Fiesta fundraiser at Bok. Eight different restaurants from South Philly participated, raising over $7,000 (and serving 800 tacos!).

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events

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community & events

Bok hosts events and community groups nearly every day of the year. From staples like Open Studios and the B[L]OK Party to parties and fundraisers that bring people together, there is no shortage of exciting events at Bok all year round.

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re : unit e Open Studios reached new heights in 2022, drawing in over 4,000 visitors eager to engage with our community. Held twice a year in the spring and fall, this biannual event brings visitors into direct contact with the makers, artists, and small businesses who call Bok home. Guests shopped, sipped, and enjoyed live music and tenant demos across all 8 floors of the building.

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B[L]OK party

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Our take on the classic summer-in-the-city block party, the B[L]OK Party brings the neighborhood together to celebrate all things BOK and South Philly. Now in its 7th year, this highly anticipated event attracts hundreds of families to take part in the festivities — and of course get in a few jumps in the bounce house!

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alumni day

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events

Every August, we welcome hundreds of Bok Vo Tech graduates back to their old stomping grounds for Alumni Day, an all-day celebration that reconnects former classmates, teachers, and friends. We believe that honoring the rich history of the building and staying connected with the alumni community is a crucial part of this mission. Alumni Day is packed with fun activities including tours, slideshows, live music, and a reception at Bok Bar. Go Wildcats!

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community events

events

We love to partner with organizers outside of the building who share our vision of creating a better Philadelphia — and world — for all. In 2022, we offered discounted spaces for events that celebrate our city’s youth, diversity, and culture. We are proud to support events that promote important causes, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with those who share our values.

A few highlights from 2022 included: • Pineapple Club Abortion Rights Fundraiser • Day of the Dead with The Welcoming Center

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• Taco Fiesta with The Welcoming Center • REC Philly x UnderDog fundraiser for BE:Philly • SEAMAAC elders’ breakfasts • CAGE cultural events

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rooftop

rooftop

irwin’s Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri moved to Philadelphia in 2011 where he worked for acclaimed chefs such as Jose Garces at Tinto, Michael Solomonov at Zahav, and Joey Baldino at Zeppoli. It was at Zeppoli that the seed of Ferreri’s love affair with treating beautiful ingredients simply started to blossom into his expression of Modern Sicilian Cuisine. In 2019, Ferreri was named among Philadelphia’s Star Chefs Rising Stars. His cuisine celebrates the seasons and the farmers that harvest the best of their terroir.

Opening at the height of the pandemic, Irwin’s has cultivated such a following that they expanded their kitchen and bar in 2022. Ferreri is thrilled to call Irwin’s his home and honored to have been named one of 10 Best New Restaurants in America in 2022 by Bon Appétit.

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Ervis Kullolli Chef de Cuisine

Michael Lancaster Wine & Beverage Director

Julie Serpico General Manager

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rooftop

Michael Ferreri Executive Chef

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Reese Bernstein Sous Chef

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bok bar

2022 felt like a return to normalcy. As Philadelphians emerged from COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines eased, the crowds began to gather once again at Bok Bar. Named “Best Scene” by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Reader’s Choice, the bar continues to be a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can take in the views.

Bok Bar collaborates with local chefs and thought leaders to offer a diverse range of events, pop-ups, and workshops throughout the season. With such a robust calendar of activities, there’s always something new and exciting happening at this beloved rooftop destination.

rooftop

Ian Kingsbery General Manager

Heather Jackson Assistant General Manager 71

re : ima gine

There is a community at Bok; an ever-evolving group of talented people and businesses that have helped define the building as much more than a place where people work. With this ethos in mind, Bok Bar collaborated with over 50 programming partners in 2022, bringing together the best this city has to offer in food and entertainment. Their diverse group of partners produced 29 weeks of events across 4 programming pillars: MAKE

MOVE

SPARK

TASTE

Handson artist workshops and maker events

Anything that moves you, from live music to DJs to fitness events

Panels and conversations that ignite the mind and spark change

Pop-ups and food concepts from the best chefs in Philadelphia

bok bar programming

re : birth

rooftop

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80

eve pop nts an -up d s in 202 2

+ 0 0 2 , 8 6 sts e u g

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-led BIPOC events

21,16 5 ‘Sun set S it Coc ktail uation’ s so ld

nts e v e d e nd e t t a

110

hours o live m f usic

bok bar by the numbers

51,000 photo s take n of th Philly e skylin e

7

food rs e partn

gener reven ated in ue Bar pa for Bok rtners

rooftop

$ 351,0 00+ 75

“Being a part of the Bok community has been a gamechanging experience for us. It is a warm and welcoming community that has opened the door to so many personal and professional opportunities. Excited to see what the future at Bok holds for us!”

Carley Hussain, Black Cat Design House

“No where else could I foster growing a business and a family simultaneously. The Bok village is strong, I’m proud to be part of it.”

Megan Stover, Stover Ceramics

“The harmonious juxtaposition between innovators makes Bok unique. The building is a far cry from a homogenous office space; it provides opportunities for cross–business collaboration and community engagement beyond Bok’s four walls.”

34th Street Magazine

“While Bok has grown so much since we joined in 2016, it still has that same family-like energy.

Popping up to Bok Bar with other tenants at the end of a work day has given way to great conversations and collaborations, like custom-made furniture for our space by Milder, or Sweetwater photographing our collections. The Bok community has enriched our business and our lives!”

Jordan and Nicole Haddad, Lobo Mau

“The Welcoming Center knew it made sense to have a space for immigrant entrepreneurs in South Philly. What at first was a blank space now holds many memories; memories of events, of team building, and collective work that support the same creative energy that is apparent throughout the building. We feel welcomed.”

Nicole Marcote, The Welcoming Center

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dedication

the center elevator 1984 - 2022 She had a good run... well, many good runs.

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Scout has made every effort to trace copyright holders, but if any have been overlooked, we will be pleased to make the necessary accreditations at the first opportunity.

Thank you to all the writers, photographers, and contributors of this project.

Edited by Scout | Designed by Kelley Garrard

1901 S. 9th Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 @buildingbok hello@buildingbok.com