YMCA of Germantown
Why it's listed
A Georgian Revival institutional building at 5722 Greene Street in Germantown, Philadelphia, completed in 1928 for the Young Men's Christian Association of Germantown. Its brick and limestone facade rests on a reinforced concrete frame, with a rusticated limestone ground story, a Corinthian-pilastered doorway and a Palladian motif on the second floor. Preliminary plans came from the Y.M.C.A. National Building Bureau, and the Philadelphia firm Thomas, Martin and Kirkpatrick completed the design. It was built during a nationwide expansion of Y.M.C.A. facilities after 1900 and reflects the association's effort to present a controlled, civic image to local communities. Gymnasia, a swimming pool and 160 dormitory rooms on the upper floors gave the association living space it had lacked in its earlier building. The building is an important example of Georgian Revival institutional architecture in Germantown and of the firm's work. It has been used continuously by the association since 1928 and retains a high degree of integrity despite minor exterior changes and early 1960s interior alterations.
Significance in brief: The building is significant as a representative example of the national expansion of Y.M.C.A. facilities after the turn of the century and of the association's effort to control its public image. Its design resulted from cooperation between the Y.M.C.A. National Building Bureau and a local Philadelphia firm. It is also an important example of Georgian Revival institutional architecture in Germantown and of the work of Thomas, Martin and Kirkpatrick.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91001709, listed November 14, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5722 Greene St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 14, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001709 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas, Martin & Kirkpatrick |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continuously used by the Y.M.C.A. of Germantown since its construction in 1928. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Colonial Germantown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.03487, -75.17778 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91001709.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q139769338
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.