The Sheward Partnership was commissioned by the School District of Philadelphia to provide professional design services for a major renovation to the existing Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical School. Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical School is a 6-story brick and stone faced building constructed in 1929. In 1967, an addition was added on the west of the building. The renovation involved the expansion of many of the existing smaller classrooms to meet the requirements of the State Department of Education as well as major upgrades and repairs to the building infrastructure.