Springside Chestnut Hill Academy recently received a substantial grant from the William B. Dietrich Foundation to support the restoration of the south-facing entrance of the Wissahickon Inn, the historic campus landmark designed by architects G.W. and W.D. Hewitt in 1878.

This renovation, part of the school’s campus master plan, will reclaim the inn’s original architectural integrity and reimagine the space as a functional, welcoming hub for future generations of SCH students, school officials said in a news release.

Home to the Upper School, administrative offices, and the heart of campus life since 1898, the Wissahickon Inn and the newly envisioned Commons Quad form two interconnected anchors of student life, academic engagement and community gathering.

The school said that over the past 50 years, a number of alterations have diminished the building’s historic coherence and disrupted its flow. The planned renovation will reverse those changes, restoring the entrance’s design.

Key features of the project include a pedestrian “Main Street,” enhancing walkability across campus; shaded outdoor seating areas for informal social and study zones; natural landscaping with specimen tree plantings; a flexible amphitheater for performances, assemblies and outdoor classes; safer, more attractive access from Willow Grove Avenue, and the removal of automobile traffic at the gateway.

“We see this project as far more than a historical restoration,” said Head of School Steve Druggan. “It is an opportunity to reestablish a cornerstone of SCH’s identity, strengthen student life, and create a campus gateway that reflects the excellence and spirit of the Inn and the institution.”

The William B. Dietrich Foundation has been a long-standing partner to SCH, previously supporting several capital initiatives, including the historically accurate restoration of the Wissahickon Inn’s Henry Library and main lobby, as well as the former livery, “The Rec,” a performing-arts space.