The Philadelphia Board of Education has begun to consider the purchase and conversion of commercial and industrial structures for use as teaching facilities. One such building, a six-story fireproof loft building, has been purchased for this purpose. This study investigates the possibilities and limitations of conversion and points up the capabilities and difficulties of such an approach. It is divided into four parts--(1) a description of the spatial and structural characteristics of the loft building, (2) an analysis of its capacity to meet general design criteria for teaching spaces, (3) an outline of the program for an intensive learning center, and (4) a design proposal incorporating specific design recommendations. (TC)