Select Completed Projects Portfolio
A sample of our premier and award-winning architectural projects.
Community College Student Pantry and Storage
Working closely with the college’s staff, a valued-engineered design that would suit the storage flexibility needed for the pantry supplies was created. The shelving is designed with custom adjustable shelves that do not require additional hardware.
Working closely with the college’s staff, a valued-engineered solution for flexible storage in the food pantry was designed with custom adjustable shelves that do not require additional hardware. The interior edges are cut in angled cleats so the support bars can adjust to the height required for the inventory without needing additional tools. The existing steel shelving is temporary, placed where multiple new receptacles were installed for future refrigerated appliances. Additionally, a value-engineered solution for HVAC was budget friendly and did not require the college to reconfigure the existing HVAC supply.
A Community College adds a Student Pantry to provide the student population with support materials for daily living. Donations are received in a variety of quantities, and must be well organized visually for inventory control. Principal Bob Conklin, AIA, Muhlenberg Greene Architects, shares his design thinking solution for providing the college with adjustable shelving units that do not require dismantling or additional hardware by using angled cleats in the design.
Multi-Family Residential Clubhouse Renovations
An interior renovation to the 2,800 SF existing clubhouse program included the reconfiguration of existing space to provide a new larger gymnasium, management offices, game room, lounge space, coffee bar, and toilet rooms. Modifications to the building envelope windows and doors were performed as necessary for the new layout.
Photography courtesy of the Village at Windermere
Graduate Center Renovations
Sometimes called the jewel of Kutztown University, the limestone Graduate Center is unmistakable on campus. Renovations and repairs to the exterior and interior were required to mitigate areas affected by water infiltration. Investigation of the building was performed using high-lift surveying, with a partial excavation to identify sub-grade infiltration, and the subsequent development of a two-phase plan, coordinated with University Facilities Management.
Historical District Post Office Reconstructs Brick Screen Walls
A circa 1910 USPS Main Office located in a Historical District had existing brick screen walls that required reconstruction and repairs to restore the original condition, to be performed while the facility remained operational. Reviewed and approved by the local historical commission, the reconstruction process required matching the brick and special ordering shapes to emulate the original design.
New Residence in Wyomissing
A couple purchased a corner lot with an existing home in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, that they wanted to replace. Downsizing from their current residence, the owners wanted a new home that reflected their lifestyle with a more open floor plan and accommodated overnight visits from family. This new residential construction and design project included multiple 3D renderings and the installation of an elevator.
Turf Field and Lighting Upgrades for School Stadium
An old grass stadium field had historic drainage issues and heavy rain could turn it into bog. We performed selective demolition to remove the existing natural turf playing surface and install the sub-base and drainage for the installation of a new artificial turf playing surface. This process also included providing protection for the existing all weather track, excavation for new field drainage and storm water controls, stone base, concrete curbing, coordinating installation of shock pad and synthetic turf systems, and other associated work.
Sophisticated Bar and Office Space for Downtown Revitalization
This existing building's major renovation project is located on Penn Street, the highly visible main drag of the City of Reading, and brings with it new vitality and economic impact. Constructed in 1894, the building was home to an inn and restaurant before becoming a chandelier factory and store. This project is a catalyst to revitalize the area.
A four(4)-story building, with a first-floor retail design, and upper floors for office space. The major tenant is a local distillery and tasting room located on the lower level(s), with upper floors designed as modern, professional office space with skyline views, for one or multiple tenants.
An expansive NanaWall (TM) folding glass door was incorporated on the street level to enable the seating for the distillery to easily expand onto the plaza area. The facade renovations also include window replacement on upper floors to meet the Historical Review Board area standards.
Berks Nostalgia | Walking Tour of the Revitalized Building
Reading Distilling Guild Restaurant/Bar Adaptive Reuse Project
Industrial Asset Tenant Improvements
We provided Design Services for tenant improvements to this 507,638 square foot building with a design based on the proposed tenant’s requirements. Our services assisted our real estate services firm client with their building improvements made in service to the long term needs of the tenant of this fully-leased property. Schematic Design, Construction Documents, and Bidding/Construction Administration were provided in addition to mechanical, electrical, and fire protecting engineering.
A Re-Imagined Office for Lease
Providing potential tenants with a vision of what a façade renovation could look like, we created a 3D Rendering of a re-imagined exterior as well as conceptual leasing plans for an existing, vacant, 27,750 square foot masonry building, last renovated in 2000. Services provided included a site survey and analysis, design development, and our 3D Visualization services. Designs for this project were intended to compete with the surrounding properties in the corporate park that had upgraded facades.
3D Visualizations for Flex Building Concept Design
This project consisted of the schematic planning and design for the construction of a new 1-story 60,000 square-foot flex building with a mezzanine which is to be constructed as a shell only. We provided Schematic Planning and Design, including 3D Rendering Services. Our services also included the Project Manual for Design Development and budget estimate bidding and administration of the bidding on behalf of the owner.
Historic Church Multi-Building Facility Assessment
Huff’s Union Church maintains seven outbuildings with varying levels of historic significance, including the Church dating back to 1876. We provided a complete Facilities Assessment to help the congregation identify top-priority preservation projects and determine which other projects should be budgeted for and addressed over time. This assessment report included an in-depth photo series, with building reviews, an HVAC summary, code implications, and an estimation of probable costs for each of the seven buildings.
Church Replaces More Than Fifty Windows
Facilities cannot operate at peak efficiency without continual upgrades and maintenance. A building’s windows are generally responsible for a third of the building’s total energy loss. Now, with new windows in place, it is easily expected that Christ Episcopal Church will save noticeably on the facility’s heating and cooling bills, plus their annual maintenance expenses are also reduced due to the change in exterior materials.
The original 60” h. x 38” w. windows featured a single pane, stained glass, and metal frame design that was visually interesting. However, over 50 years they had lost their functionality, becoming drafty and costly to repair and maintain. Our team worked with the Church to produce a design styled like their windows located within the connecting lobby of The Church and Parish Hall.
To limit disturbances inside the church - and on the busy city streets - a phased approach was implemented for the schedule of work. For example, the upper-level windows were replaced first, followed by the lower level. This strategy limited the man lift time on the site.
Teaming with Marvin Windows and D&S Elite Construction, our strategy proved to be so successful that the project finished almost three weeks ahead of schedule - the removal and installation of 51-custom made, double-insulated glazed, aluminum-clad windows was completed in just 36 days!
School District Multi-Building Roof Replacement
The Conrad Weiser Area School District needed to repair, and in some cases replace, the roofs of their Middle and High School buildings. Coordinated with the School District Administration to perform the work over the summer, we began the process with quality control testing for the product selected and selective demolition as required, providing temporary protection of roof areas being repaired or replaced to maintain the weather-proof condition of the existing building.
Experienced supervisors and installers, approved by the manufacturers installed the membrane roofing system and applied the coating system. Rigid insulation panels including tapered insulation, metal copings, roof edge fascia, flashings, expansion joints, roof drains, scuppers and other accessories as required were also part of the scope of work. Additionally, new metal gutters and snow guards were added to the High School’s existing metal roof system.
At the Middle School, 100 linear feet of seam irregularities and repairs were performed on the surface of the built-up roofing system. An additional 300 square feet of damaged or wet roof insulation and repair, and the installation of 10 additional replacement roof drains were also part of the project.
Muhlenberg Green Architects’ Firm Principal and Project Architect James A. Sarro, AIA, wanted a cost-effective way to revitalize the finish of the existing metal roof at the High School. Created in the school’s custom blue color, Acrymax® Technologies Inc.'s coating system, based on Kynar Aquatec® PVDF, was selected to refresh the look of the building and provide the continued performance of the metal roofs for years to come.
Working within the School District’s budget and guidance provided by the product manufacturer, the proper products were selected during the design process and installed in the field under Jim’s and Acrymax’s supervision, resulting in the successful completion of the project.
See Drone Video Footage
Children’s Chapel Doubles as a Multipurpose Function Room
In 2012, the Children’s Home of Reading, in partnership with its donors and capital improvements committee, commissioned Muhlenberg Greene Architects to design a new Chapel addition to CHOR’s Pear Street Cottage building.
The addition was envisioned by its benefactors as a sanctuary for non-denominational worship, meditation and peaceful reflection. In addition, the space was to serve a multi-purpose function for small group activities, family visits, meetings, and music and art therapy sessions. Our challenge was to design a space that served these disparate functions within a small footprint and a modest budget.
To assist CHOR with its fundraising efforts, MG Architects developed conceptual renderings and design drawings for the Chapel that were presented to donors to generate support for the initiative. Over time, we revised our design, and eventually developed construction drawings to build the addition, and in 2016, the project officially broke ground.
The Holleran Chapel was delivered as a design/build project in conjunction with Associated Construction & Management Corporation (ACM), for whom we prepared detailed construction drawings and specifications. MG Architects also assisted ACM with bidding support and construction administration services throughout the construction phase. Mechanical and Electrical design services were provided by others, and MG Architects provided in-house structural design.
The Holleran Chapel, housing the Arthur L. Schott Sanctuary, was completed and dedicated in 2017. It continues to serve the residents and staff of the CHOR as a spiritual refuge and gathering place.
Specialized State-of-the-Art Treatment Centers
Our firm provided Architectural Design for specialized, state-of-the-art care, and multi-modality treatment center located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, forecasted to serve nearly 200 patients each day. Architectural design services were also provided for locations in Cape May Courthouse, Mays Landing, and Charlottesville, Virginia. The Project Architect also worked on the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania project.
Construction Documents with field verification of existing building conditions, preparation of the existing building floor plan, and a compliance code review were provided at the Ephrata location. Architectural Plans prepared for construction included the Code Plan, Floor Plans, Reflected Ceiling Plans, any details as required, and Door Schedules.
Outdoor Classroom Spaces at Kutztown University
Kutztown University contracted our firm for assistance with the architectural and structural design services for a planned Outdoor Classroom. We visited the campus to identify the elements to be located at the Classroom Site, and surveyed the elements for accurate dimensions and to determine structural foundation requirements.
Together with Structural Engineering Firm Providence Engineering, we provided a structural review and analysis of the foundation and conducted site visits during construction to review work and respond to contractor questions. We provided drawings for use by the contractor for the foundation work and a shop drawing review of reinforcing, as needed.
One of the main features of this setting is the use of new and existing materials. Adaptive reuse of a granite slab in the University’s inventory was incorporated as a tabletop. Principal Scott O. Graham, AIA designed a foundation and support for this impressive stone, creating a stately presence for meetings outdoors.
Warehouse Adapted to Accommodate More Loading Docks
Suburban Management Company’s 143,092-square-foot warehouse spans 16 acres and is conveniently located less than 35 miles from the Philadelphia International Airport. The single-story facility started with only 4 loading docks, but with the new addition, now boasts twenty-four (24) loading docks, 8 drive-in bays, and a 31’ ceiling height.
Twenty (20) new Blue Giant overhead loading dock doors and dock levelers were designed and installed by our team, with modifications to the existing building structure and the underpinning of the existing footing as required. The scope of work also included adding concrete retaining walls with fall protection, and site modifications to lower the existing grade at the new dock positions to a height to allow warehouse equipment to access the trucks.
Our firm provided design documentation for the new 20 docks, detailing of site/interior modifications for a proposed tenant, architectural design, structural engineering services, and civil engineering design assistance. We were also on hand to answer any questions that building code officials and contractors may have had during the process.
The first step in the project was to conduct a field survey to verify existing conditions and update the schematic plan based on those field conditions. On one side of the warehouse, the design for eight (8) of the new loading docks would need to accommodate the existing steel structure behind the facade. The solution was to space the docks in this section further apart to avoid the need for expensive structural changes. A bulk pour foundation and concrete wall were constructed to encompass and underpin the existing building foundation.
Keeping water away from the loading docks is a design imperative. At this location, site and grading issues needed to be addressed to get the proper slope back to the loading docks, making certain that the correct angle for the trucks coming towards the building is maintained. With no sanitary or stormwater lines on one side of the building, the interior work included putting in a pump to get the sanitary lines over to the other side of the building.
Existing docks that were renovated received updated dock levelers, dock bumpers, and wheel locks. A lighting system that interfaces with the wheel locks tells drivers when they can pull in and out - green means go!
New Blue Giant Loading Docks Added to Warehouse in Pennsylvania
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Carriage House
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Carriage House of Berks County, PA project is the recipient of the 2019 Building Berks Nonprofit Project Award.
The Carriage house was purchased by BBBS in 2001. Funds were raised in 2017 with the goal to create a modern facility that is safe, comfortable, and inviting for socializing, training and interviews.
The Carriage House is a historic property. One of the more challenging parts of the plan was to preserve the historic front façade of the building, which had four (4) original Carriage House overhead doors. To accomplish this, one of the overhead door panels were cut and hinged, creating a functioning entryway from the street, and uniformity on the outside. The remaining three original panel doors are solid and anchored, and the exterior has maintained its historic appeal.
An exterior brick retaining wall was removed on the side of the Carriage House, and pathways were paved so that water may run down the hillside to the street without getting trapped. This solution avoided the added expense of floor drains.
Outside in the yard, a trench was dug to place a large PVC pipe between the main building and the Carriage House. This pipe holds all the lines run for gas, water, and other utilities.
Inside was a blank slate. The interior was completely rebuilt, including the floor which had been sloped from back to front. To adjust this, a ramp was added inside where the door to the street is located. The remainder of the interior floor was built up on a platform to create a level surface. Steps were added to the side entrance, and the staircase to the second floor was rebuilt.
Working with code officials, it was determined that a single bathroom could be added to the floor plan because there are additional bathrooms in the main building. This solution saved money for the client and allowed room for the new kitchenette. The lower level accommodates new electric, plumbing, and alarm systems. And a new closet was created on the second floor to house the HVAC unit.
The Carriage House now offers a warm, inviting interior with flexible seating arrangements for gatherings that range from socializing to interviews and formal training sessions. Many thanks to our partners at Dolan Construction.
Reading Eagle Article on the History and Adaptive Reuse of the Carriage House
Read More About This Project on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Website
Big Brothers Big Sisters Carriage House Doors Highlight
Knight's Pub at Stokesay Castle
Erected in 1931 by George Hiester as a honeymoon cottage for his bride, Stokesay Castle was originally designed by Fredrick A. Muhlenberg, the founder of Muhlenberg Greene Architects. The stone building, patterned after a 13th-century English castle, now includes two restaurants and several banquets, and meeting rooms of various sizes.
In order to add a casual dining atmosphere to augment the well-known fine dining available at historic Stokesay Castle, a 3,500-square-foot restaurant/bar addition was created.
The addition was constructed on the site of the original Knight’s Pub, which was an outdoor space only. The design of the addition incorporated traditional architectural styles into a contemporary design that seeks to complement the original structure.
This project allowed the Knight’s Pub to become fully enclosed, providing year-round service with seating for 150 patrons. The window systems slide away fully to maintain the open-air atmosphere of the former all-outdoor original pub.
The new addition of the Knight’s Pub at Stokesay Castle in Reading, Pennsylvania
Adaptive Reuse for New Health Center
Located in a former Giant Foods storefront, the Berks Community Health Center is a new Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary care, pediatrics, dentistry, behavioral health, chiropractic, walk-in triage, and other community health services. Included in the conversion are sub-lease spaces for a medical lab, physical rehabilitation, radiology, and more.
This project is a conversion of an existing, vacant, 37,000-square-foot strip-mall tenant space into a community health center with the goal of offering as many multi-disciplinary healthcare providers as possible.
Designs for this project were vetted to make certain we stayed true to supporting the mission of the new facility. This translated into the scale of private consultation and public waiting areas, the use of durable, economically viable, and attractive finishes integrated with the psychology of color, and the urgency to maximize the floor plan.
Our firm provided Architectural/Engineering Design Services, including planning and programming phase surveys and analysis, design development and construction document preparation, bidding and award of contracts, and construction administration services.
Read the article feature on this project in Healthcare Construction and Operations News
