The Freight House

Location:Bethlehem, PA
Size:3,141 SF
George J. Donovan AIA & Associates recently relocated our Bethlehem offices to our newly renovated “Freight House” in the Historic District. Our building has been placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The original structure was built in 1873; western office area added in 1910. The building was used mainly for warehousing for the past 30 years and was in a deteriorated condition. The structure was renovated in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, the Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission, and the Historic Review Board of the City of Bethlehem. This Adaptive Reuse Project, which contains our offices and an additional tenant suite, has been designed for LEED certification and our goal is to be rated at the Silver Level. The project incorporates sustainability conservation by focusing on the materials used in the structure. The rehabilitation of this building embraces and challenges the notion of recycling materials. By re-using as much of the existing elements on-site, this project frees up precious landfill space and conserves natural resources while maintaining the urban fabric of the site. The project came to fruition through the labor of our sister construction company – Donovan-Phillips LTD located in Bedminster, Bucks County, PA.

The Challenge

The Results

First Savings Bank of Perkasie Administrative Office Building

The official opening ceremony took place on March 28, 2006 with First Savings of Perkasie bank officials, State Representative Paul Clymer and borough representatives in attendance at the ribbon cutting. The 40,000 square foot adaptive reuse project included reclamation of an 81 year old silk mill (which had become an eyesore) and conversion to the bank’s new corporate headquarters. This project was designed using various "Green Building" techniques adhering to the LEED standards of environmental sustainability which will allow for up to 25 percent savings in heating and cooling costs due to the building's overall design, use of natural light, efficient windows and other features. This building demonstrates a community commitment to re-using an abandoned building rather than creating new construction on precious farmland, which is disappearing and needs to be preserved.

Site Prior to Restoration

The 81 year old structure once housed a silk mill, followed by a truck body manufacturing company, and then a stainless steel production company.

Restored Building is now First Savings Bank Administration Building

New Hope Borough Center Police Building & Public Meeting Facility

New Hope Borough Public Meeting Room

Location:New Hope, PA
Size: Renovation - 7,046 SF; Addition - 2,074 SF SF
Program: Adaptive Reuse of former church built in 1885. The new Borough Public Meeting Room was re-created from the original sanctuary of the Church. This project was designed using LEED Silver Standards utilizing 95% waste reduction, featuring a White Evaloy Roof, a green screen vegetative wall, re-use of existing wood floors, new ceiling installed with high recycled content materials, and low VOC Paints/Stains/Sealants.

New Hope Borough Center Administration Building

Location:New Hope, PA
Size: Renovation - 4,250 SF; Addition - 696 SF SF
Program: Adaptive Reuse of Church Rectory built in 1880’s. Building was redesigned for use as Administrative Offices utilizing LEED Silver Standards, instituting low VOC paints/stains/sealants, spray foam-in insulation and re-use of existing wood floors.

Playwicki Park Carriage House Building Renovations

Location:Lower Southhampton Township Parks, Lower Southampton, PA
Size: 484 SF
Program:This project was the catalyst for utilization by the Parks Department of “Green Designed” public restrooms featuring solar powered sink water heaters/soap dispensers, dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, using 40% less water consumption than the Energy Policy Act requirements, and installation of low energy lighting. Building was re-outfitted to be vandal resistant.

Colonial Regional Police

Location:Bethlehem, PA
Size: 14,000 SF
Program:Project involved re-outfitting a former insurance building and site into a police building headquarters and district magistrate’s office, and was designed to LEED Silver Standards. The project included recycling and reclamation of 75% of construction debris, reuse of 25 existing doors and over 100 lighting fixtures and retrofit of existing plumbing fixtures to be water efficient. It also included new dual flush toilets and low VOC paints.

Diana Vincent Jewelers

Location: Washington Crossing, PA
Size: 3,500 S.F.
Program: Complete restoration and conversion of a 1940's cape built in the craftsman style of architecture into a jewelry store.  This adaptive reuse project was honored with the 2006 Silver Award from the American Institute of Architects, and also received a First Place 2004 Master Design Award in the light commercial renovation category from the publishers of Qualified Remodeler.

Lower Southampton Library

Location: Bridgetown Pike, Lower Southampton Township, PA
Size: 13,000 S.F.
Program: Renovation of an old, vacant industrial building into a state-of-the-art community library facility. The library contains a new community meeting room, new study rooms and a major book stack expansion.

Newtown Business Campus  (formerly Newtown Industrial Park)

Location: Newtown, PA
Size: 75,000 S.F.
Program: 35 year old business park is currently undergoing redevelopment.  Our firm recently designed the renovations to the 104 Pheasant Run site, a former industrial building (Cameron Troilo Properties) which now accommodates office suites, a bank, cafe, and two large atrium areas with fountains.

Industrial Use Building Prior to Rehabilitation:

Redesign as Office Condominiums:

Teletronics  (Newtown Business Campus)

Location: Newtown, PA
Size: 90,000 S.F.
Program: Conversion of a former one story factory in two stories of office space.

The Challenge:

The Result: