Historical Highlights

Founded in 1964, the College opened for classes in 1965 in a former department store at 34 S. 11th Street while a permanent campus was being sought. In 1971 the College acquired from the federal government the building at 1700 Spring Garden Street that had housed the third Philadelphia Mint and eventually would become the centerpiece of its permanent campus.

Even with renovations of the Mint underway, we began holding classes there in 1973. The College maintained both the 11th Street and 17th Street campuses until the spring of 1983 when all of our main campus facilities, including the West and Bonnell buildings, were built and consolidated into the permanent campus at 17th Street.

The Winnet Student Life/Instruction Building and Gymnasium, 17th & Buttonwood Streets, was completed and formally dedicated in September, 1991.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (215) 751-8040.

Timeline:

1964: Commission on Higher Education published "A Guide for the Establishment of the Community College of Philadelphia." Planning began for the College's opening.

1965: The College started classes at the former Snellenberg Department Store, 34 South 11th street, on September 23. Dr. Allen T. Bonnell is appointed president. Approximately 700 full-time students and 500 part-time students enroll.

1967: The first class of Community College of Philadelphia graduates.

1972: The U.S. Government donates the former Mint Building on Spring Garden Street to the College for their new, permanent campus.

1973: Classes begin in the renovated sections of the Mint Building.

1979: Construction of new buildings begins at the Spring Garden site.

1982: Phase I of construction completed, which adds the Bonnell and West buildings to the campus.

1984: Completion of the sports deck atop the parking garage at 18th and Callowhill Streets in October.

1985: The West Regional Center is established.

1986: Parking garage on 17th street opens in January. The West Regional Center is established.

1989: Phase II of construction begins with the Student Life (Winnet) Building and gymnasium.

1991: Northwest Regional Center is established.

1992: Construction of new building for the West Regional Center begins; Center opens in the same year.

1994: New Northeast Regional Center site is bought and renovated.

1995: Northeast Regional Center opens in June.

2000: The College's current president, Stephen M. Curtis, is inaugurated.

2003: The Center for Business and Industry opens in January.