Project
Experience

Cobbs Creek Golf Course, a historic Philadelphia landmark, has long been a place of “firsts.” It opened in 1916 and became one of the first public courses accessible to women and people of color. It was the home course of the first African American PGA Tour player, golf legend, Charlie Sifford.

Unfortunately, decades of neglect that started in the 1950’s, rerouted holes, flooding, and disrepair had left the course in need of a major revitalization by the early 2000’s.

In 2010, the Cobbs Creek Foundation was officially formed with the goal of restoring the course and surrounding community assets. Central to that vision was a $30 million Learning Lab, created in partnership with the TGR Foundation, founded by Tiger Woods. The mission: to provide free educational opportunities and community resources, ensuring the revitalized course would benefit far more than golfers.

To succeed, the Learning Lab needed spaces that could flex between traditional classroom learning, hands-on maker activities, recording and technology labs, and after-school hangout zones. The furniture would need to be collaborative, mobile, and durable, supporting everything from STEM projects to creative exploration.
“Flexibility, sturdiness and reliability were key,” said Kris Pirnat, Project Manager, Becker & Frondorf. “Every space has different needs, all the chairs and tables needed to be mobile and flexible to adjust to each environment and durable to withstand heavy use.”
COFCO, a Henricksen company, partnered with the TGR Foundation, Los Angeles–based design firm LPA, and multiple vendors to bring the vision of the Learning Lab to life. Leveraging its long relationship with Allsteel, COFCO was invited early in the process and helped guide selections through renderings and drawings rather than traditional mockups.

Mobile Allsteel training tables, lightweight chairs, and height-adjustable stations were selected to allow students and teachers to easily reconfigure the spaces and create flexible learning environments. This included maker spaces that were equipped with large mobile tables, stools, and specialized seating for hands-on learning and things like music production. There is even a golf simulator room. Comfortable, fun lounge furniture was used to create a welcoming after-school environment where students can relax, collaborate, and hang out.

“the lounge space is the first thing students see when they arrive upstairs as their first introduction to the,” said Caroline Robinson, Director of Operations, TGR Learning Lab. “We tell the kids that the lab is yours, and having a space with furniture that makes the kids believe that statement is important. You can tell that everything was selected with that welcoming and social, trend-making environment in mind.”

Throughout the project, COFCO coordinated closely with architects, the design team, owner’s reps, and multiple manufacturers to ensure seamless execution of the project. Collaboration was key, with every stakeholder aligned around the shared goal of creating an inspiring space for Philadelphia’s youth.

“COFCO was incredibly responsive,” said Pirnat, “Things often changed, and they were quick to respond, making the process seamless. I would work with them again and again.”

“The initial delivery happened quickly, and we were working against a tight timeline,” said Robinson. “I was five days, a very narrow window to outfit a 30,000 sq ft building with furniture. COFCO was part of the reason we were able to launch on April 1st and have kids into the building on day one.”

The Cobbs Creek TGR Learning Lab opened in April 2025 with a soft launch, immediately delivering on its mission of combining education, community, and recreation. The flexible, student-centered furniture design empowers learners to move, create, and engage with their environment in ways traditional classrooms can’t.

“Working in a building where the core focus is education and we have 1st through 12th grade students visiting, having furniture that is functional and flexible is a high priority,” said Robinson. “We often have to switch furniture usage based on the needs of our programs, and we can easily do that.”

From STEM labs to recording studios, the Lab offers opportunities that many local students might not otherwise have access to, and the furniture makes those opportunities approachable, engaging, and fun. Lounge areas invite students to stay after school, while maker spaces encourage experimentation and hands-on learning.

Beyond the physical environment, the project stands as a model of community-driven revitalization. With three miles of carefully restored stream and wetlands, a new short course, and the potential to once again host PGA tournaments, Cobbs Creek is reclaiming its legacy while building a new one: investing in the next generation.