GJ Donovan AIA & Associates, Architects
 
 


Newtown Township, the first LEED Silver Certified Municipal Complex in Bucks County, PA is open for business.

Read the full story - http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2010/08/06/the_advance/news/doc4c56edce0aeb5613414159.txt

 

BETHLEHEM CITY MAYOR JOHN CALLAHAN OFFICIATES AT DONOVAN RIBBON CUTTING

Over 100 Lehigh Valley business leaders and Bethlehem officials attended a reception at the Freight House on November 18th 2009. George J. Donovan AIA & Associates Architects celebrated its 4th anniversary in Bethlehem by unveiling their new office at 55 W. Lehigh St. The 136 year old building has been revitalized by the architects and their builder partner Donovan-Phillips, Ltd. The project was partially funded through the Façade Loan Program administered by The City of Bethlehem’s Office of Economic Development. Mayor Callahan presented a citation recognizing Donovan’s investment and commitment to the reuse of historically significant buildings.

The team hopes to achieve a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the sustainable project.

Ribbon cutting at new Bethlehem Location Pictured in photo L to R:
H. Joseph Phillips AIA, LEED AP Partner
Mayor John Callahan
George J. Donovan AIA, LEED AP Partner
Roger McTague, Lehigh Valley Office Manager

 

 

 

Are you considering renovations/expansions to your home? Let George J. Donovan AIA and Associates help you achieve your dreams.

The following is an article quoted from Kathleen Nicholson Webber for The Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/real_estate/20090517_For_their_dream_home__bigger_wasn_t_better.html

 

The following is an article quoted from the newsroom of the Heritage Conservancy of Doylestown, PA:

"Heritage Conservancy Hosted Bucks County Commissioner and Honored George J. Donovan at "Businesses for Conservation" Reception

Bucks County's new Commissioner, Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia honors George J. Donovan, AIA, LEED AP as a leader in regional preservation.


George Donovan receiving Heritage Conservancy's 2008 Business Leader Conservation Award from Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia

Over 120 people joined Heritage Conservancy at Doylestown's historic Aldie Mansion on Thursday, April 24 to listen to Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia present the Conservancy's 2008 Business Leader Conservation Award to regionally recognized architect, George J. Donovan. This is the third year that Heritage Conservancy has presented its Business Leader Conservation Award to a businessperson who has made a significant contribution to preservation. The Commissioner also presented Mr. Donovan with a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners honoring his work. The award presentation was all part of Heritage Conservancy's tenth annual Businesses for Conservation reception and the year-long celebration of the Conservancy's 50th Anniversary.

Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia, when presenting the award to George Donovan said, " George has a certain sense of what people need and how to put that together with the project he is developing. George doesn't give you more than you need but never less. That is one of the major reasons he is getting this award tonight."

Clifford C. David Jr., President of Heritage Conservancy noted that George served several terms on the Conservancy's Board and praised him for his many years of dedication to the Conservancy's mission. Mr. David also presented a Pa Senate citation on behalf of Senator Chuck McIlhinney to George for his exceptional efforts in land and historic preservation.

Mr. Donovan who owns an architectural firm located in Bedminster Township, has long been recognized for his "green building" designs and adaptive reuse of historic structures. One of Donovan's most noted adaptive reuses of an historic structure is Aldie Mansion, Heritage Conservancy's headquarters. After years of being vacant and vandalized, Aldie Mansion was acquired by Heritage Conservancy in 1989. The Conservancy, with George Donovan's assistance, restored and preserved the mansion utilizing the practice of adaptive reuse. Adaptive reuse is a process that adapts existing, often older, buildings for new uses while retaining their historic features. Adaptive reuse is one method used for historic preservation and sustainable development throughout the country.

George J. Donovan and Associates AIA have received many recognitions for their projects. In 2006, the firm was given the Silver Award from the Bucks County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for the adaptive reuse of the Diana Vincent Jewelers, a 1940's cape in Washington Crossing, PA.

Mr. Donovan's firm has also received the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce's Excellence in Design Award numerous times for multiple adaptive reuse and restoration projects throughout Bucks County including the Lower Southampton Township Library, the Visitor Center at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Bucks County Audubon Society's Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center.

In addition to being recognized for historic restoration and adaptive reuse, Donovan's firm has received LEED Professional Accreditation by demonstrating a thorough understanding of green building practices and principals and the LEED Green Building System.

Mr. Donovan spoke of his involvement with Central Bucks Chamber's Architectural and Environmental Committee which promotes excellence in design in both the built and natural environments through adaptive reuse and new construction. He also talked about his effort to further advance this concept by working with Jeffrey Marshall, Heritage Conservancy's Vice President of Resource Protection, to promote the Bucks County Audubon's barn tour, Castles in the Fields. The purpose of the tour is the preservation of barns through continued use, either for agricultural purposes or adaptive reuse for residential or commercial projects. Mr. Donovan said, "My commitment to historic preservation and land conservation permeates my past 30 years of architectural practice and personal philosophy."

Mr. Donovan noted his firm has preserved more than forty historic structures through adaptive reuse and transformed them into income producing businesses that help keep the local business community stable and increase property values. Donovan added, "This is a win-win approach for everyone."

In conclusion, Mr. Donovan stated, "The Conservancy has been at the forefront of these concepts. Heritage Conservancy is a beacon for the success of this preservation process." "

(For a larger view of the Proclamation - click the image below)

 


George J. Donovan AIA & Associates, Architects was awarded the design of a “green” municipal campus for Newtown Township, Newtown, Bucks County, PA.  The four campus buildings are planned to be designed as a LEED Silver Certified projects as established by the United States Green Building Council.

LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Staff News

George J. Donovan AIA & Associates was awarded the 2006 Silver Award from the American Institute of Architects for this adaptive reuse project, which also received a First Place 2004 Master Design Award in the light commercial renovation category from the publishers of Qualified Remodeler.  The program consisted of the complete renovation of an existing residence for Diana Vincent Jewelers, designers and platinum smiths located in Washington Crossing, PA.  


Our Offices

Our main office is located in Bedminster approximately 15 minutes north of Doylestown, 3160 Bedminster Road (Route 113) in Bedminster, PA. Come visit us in our new Bethlehem office located at the newly renovated freight house – 55 West Lehigh Street, Bethlehem, PA.

Bedminster, PA

 

Bethlehem, PA