Case Studies
25
“The new property will complement Laurel Beech Park by
providing facilities for park users.”
– Michael Taylor
Assistant Township Manager
The Story
The Seven Dolors Catholic Church was
built in 1962. The rectory and Lorenz Hall, a
recreation and event building, were built in
1958. The 1.6-acre property is located in a
residential Wyndmoor neighborhood adjacent
to the township’s Laurel Beech Park, which
includes a soccer field and playground.
Founded in 1916, the Seven Dolors Parish
merged with neighboring St. Genevieve’s
Parish in 2003 due to declining membership.
Though the church building and Lorenz Hall
remained in continuous use for more than
ten years, it was not possible for the parish
to keep up with the increasing costs of
maintenance.
For the planned municipal campus,
Springfield Township completed a preliminary
conditions assessment and spatial analysis
of the church, rectory, and recreation hall.
The existing buildings met the immediate
need to temporarily house the library
and administrative buildings during the
campus construction project and will meet
the township’s long-term need for indoor
recreation space through the conversion.
Since purchasing the property in 2015, the
township has established a temporary library
in the church and the township administrative
office in the rectory and has continued to
allow recreational use of Lorenz Hall by St.
Genevieve Catholic Youth Organization teams
and other local athletic organizations.
The temporary library is adjacent to Laurel Beech Park.
A handicap entrance was added and religious imagery was removed from
the building.
