After 15 years of sitting empty along the shores of Italian Lake, the century-old former William Penn High School will soon be leveled.
The Harrisburg School District announced that heavy machinery will begin bringing down the landmark 100-year-old structure on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, bringing a final resolution to years of intense debate over the property’s future.
The sprawling 27-acre campus has been completely vacant since 2011, when it last served as a vocational-technical school for the district.
Originally opened in 1926 as a twin sister school to John Harris High School, the Charles Howard Lloyd-designed building stood as an architectural crown jewel in Uptown Harrisburg for decades. However, since closing its doors 15 years ago, the building has sat unused while school boards and city leaders debated whether it could be saved.
The decision to tear down the school—approved by a 7–1 school board vote in February—comes down to severe structural decay, safety risks, and financial drain on local taxpayers.
Severe Deterioration & Vandalism: Over a decade and a half of neglect left the building without working plumbing or electricity, leading to collapsed roofs, extensive water infiltration, and widespread mold. The property became a magnet for trespassers, graffiti, and multiple arson incidents that compromised structural integrity.
The “Vacant Drain” on Taxpayers: District officials revealed that keeping the empty structure secured and insured was costing taxpayers roughly $566,000 per year—over $1,000 a day spent strictly on security guards and liability coverage for a building that provided zero educational benefit.
High Cost of Restoration: While community members and historic preservationists advocated for adaptive reuse, estimates to repair and transform the facility into a modern career/tech center ranged from $13 million to $93 million. Having just exited state receivership, board leadership deemed those multi-million-dollar restoration projects an “unmanageable financial risk.”
Before the wrecking ball swings on Tuesday, contractors completed an extensive internal asbestos abatement process that began in June. Environmental consultants conducted 136 air quality tests between early June and July, confirming all samples met safety standards. External window caulk and glaze abatement will continue through mid-August under strict Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) oversight.
For alumni and neighborhood residents looking to retain a piece of local history, district officials announced that memento bricks from the 1926 building will be made available. Interested community members can request a brick by contacting facilities@hbgsd.us.
While final land-use plans have not been officially locked in, the administration’s top recommendation for the 27-acre property is to construct new athletic facilities—including dedicated sports fields—to serve current Harrisburg School District students.
