Constructed in 1916, what is commonly known as the Drexel Armory is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Armory, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, has been the home of the National Guard’s 103rd Engineering Battalion since the 1920s. Drexel signed a 50-year lease in 2008 to occupy a portion of the Classic Revival style building. It now serves as the home base of the university’s Army ROTC program and is a popular event space for concerts, conferences, art shows, and food festivals.
A comprehensive rehabilitation project led by KMA in 2018 included exterior masonry repair and cleaning, new windows, doors and roof. Interior work included new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, telecom and fire alarm systems, architectural finish upgrades to walls, floors and ceilings, and ADA accessibility.
