The Reading School District has acquired a 22,500-square-foot building at 1015 Rockland Street to support its facilities needs. The district closed on the property on February 28 for $2.7 million.
The district will use a portion of the warehouse space immediately to meet its Facilities Department’s increasing space demands.
“Expanding our operational capacity is an important step in meeting the growing needs of our district, “said Wayne Gehris, Chief Financial Officer of the Reading School District. “This property will provide immediate benefits for our Facilities Department while also giving us room to adapt in the years ahead.”
The property, formerly owned by Rockland Gateway, was previously used by Albright College, which identified it as no longer essential to its immediate needs. The district explored other potential properties before selecting the Rockland Street site for its optimal location and turnkey condition.
The site is a 1.27-acre corner parcel located at the northwest corner of Rockland Street and North 11th Street. The building includes 9,450 square feet of warehouse space, 4,800 square feet of climate-controlled storage, and additional office and lab space.
“This building purchase ensures we have the infrastructure necessary to support our students and staff now and into the future,” said Dr. Jennifer Murray, Reading SchoolDistrict Superintendent. “We look forward to making the most of this space as we continue serving our community.”
As part of the purchase, the district has entered into a licensing agreement with Albright College, allowing the college to utilize the 4,800 square feet of climate-controlled storage through February 28, 2026. The space is being used to store library materials during Albright’s ongoing renovations while the district evaluates its long-term plans for the building.
The purchase was approved by the RSD School Board on February 26 following discussion in a January executive session. The district will continue to assess future uses for the building, including additional potential program space or a wrestling practice facility.
