From a cramped space that had staff working in the hallways to a polished, fresh new office, the York County Literacy Council is bringing a sense of dignity and inspiration to its students.
No matter their back story, each person who sits in a classroom at the York County Literacy Council is there to do the hard work, to find a better life, to take a dream and turn it into action.
They are parents and grandparents. They are entrepreneurs. They are neighbors and friends. To Frank Dittenhafer, their literacy is non-negotiable.
“Literacy relates to so much in anyone’s life,” he says. “You see it in employment, education, personal growth, or a family situation. I feel obligated to do what I can to help.”
While serving on the board of the York County Literacy Council, Dittenhafer was drawn to do more than the status quo. He saw the cramped conditions in which the staff of the Literacy Council was working, and the unacceptable conditions used by students.
They had outgrown their office at 800 E. King Street. Staff held meetings in the hallways. Even the lunchroom had been turned into a classroom. The mismatch of office furniture collected over the years lacked the sense of dignity that Executive Director Bobbi Anne DeLeo hoped people would feel when they stepped inside.
“It got to the point where we couldn’t function like that anymore,” she says. “We had to do something.”
In 2016, the Literacy Council set out to create a strategic plan. They wanted to find out if the current office space could be modified to accommodate their needs, but digging deeper told DeLeo what she already knew in her heart: It was time to find a new home.
The search begins
It seemed like a natural fit for Dittenhafer to chair the Space Needs Facility Location Task Force. As President of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, he gathered his resources and knowledge to help the Literacy Council not only find a new space but to seek out a facility that would further its mission and impact.
The search led them to explore different partner opportunities and consider spaces in downtown York. Some options fell through. Others didn’t check off everything on their wish list. Many didn’t fit the budget.
That was until they stepped into the Graham Capital Building on Sixth Avenue in Springettsbury Township. The former office location for UPMC Memorial staff was finally where the Literacy Council would settle.
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One section of the building simply needed some touchups, including fresh paint, new carpet and ceiling tiles. Another, larger section, needed a total build out, but provided a blank slate for Murphy & Dittenhafer to create a plan that not only met the needs of the Literacy Council but inspired those students, volunteers, and community members who would someday visit it.
“I had no idea what an architectural firm actually does,” DeLeo admits, laughing. “But having Frank Dittenhafer and his team available to help us made all the difference.”
With M&D’s help, DeLeo looked at all the amenities the Literacy Council would need, such as enough bathrooms, office space, and classroom seating capacity. But she also saw the way a fresh coat of paint and the layout of a space could spark something inside of her. She felt the excitement in what could be possible just by standing in an empty room and dreaming.
Bringing it all together
While Dittenhafer led the Task Force that helped the Literacy Council find its new home, he points to the many members of his firm who jumped at his request to lend a hand. From Rebecca McCormick, Patrick Ness, and Bruce Johnson who looked at sites and test-fit layouts, to Pete Colello who helped develop the final construction plans and renderings, and Lisa Clemens with M&D Interiors Studio who selected the interior paint colors, carpets, finishes and furnishings — it was a team effort to bring it to life.
“I love that it’s an important part of working at Murphy & Dittenhafer that we give back,” Clemens says. “I think especially in a nonprofit setting, they often have to make things work with so little, and not a lot of recognition for what they’re doing. Having a space of your own gives a certain validity and credence to everything that’s happening.”
For DeLeo, it’s a new opportunity to make an even greater impact in the lives of those who need it.
“We try everything we can with teaching language, reading, mathematics and even entry-level college courses,” she says. “There’s a real sense of ownership and possibilities when you step into this space. And yes, they are worthy of something that is business-like and professional. That speaks volumes.”
The memorial’s groundbreaking took place in June, and the dedication is set to take place on November 11, 2024, or Veterans Day.