Lions Gate Recognized for Outstanding Design and Planning
SMP’s Lions Gate at Penn State Abington has been honored with the 2018 Montgomery Award from the Montgomery County Planning Commission. This prestigious annual program promotes awareness of outstanding design and innovative planning by recognizing the best in planning, design, and advocacy in Montgomery County. The project transformed an abandoned car dealership parking lot into a lushly landscaped extension of the Penn State Abington campus. The jury described the project as “a transformative redevelopment project awarded for innovative design, community investment, and sustainable practices.” The 400 bed LEED Gold residence hall combines the social and academic opportunities of a traditional dormitory with shared apartment style living units.
Visitor Center at Ohiopyle Honored
The Falls Area Visitor Center at Ohiopyle State Park was honored by the Green Building Alliance (GBA) at their Emerald Evening on Thursday September 20, 2018. On the occasion of its 25th Anniversary, the GBA, a nonprofit organization based in Pittsburgh, recognized the 25 most influential green buildings in western Pennsylvania constructed in the last 25 years. Awardees were selected for verified innovation in design and maintenance across a diversity of sectors, building types, and project scales, and their collective efforts have elevated sustainable building practices in Western Pennsylvania. SMP Principal Todd Woodward, Park Manager Ken Bisbee, and Deputy Secretary of DCNR Michael Walsh were on hand to accept the award.
East Park Canoe House Ribbon Cutting
On March 9th, the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated East Park Canoe House. This 1914 Spanish Mission Revival style building, designed by Walter T. Smedley, is located on the Schuylkill River along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park and is a contributing feature to the National Register Historic District of Fairmount Park. After suffering serious deterioration and closing in 2008 due to structural failures, SMP led the design efforts to extensively rehabilitate the interior and exterior. Now restored to its original use as a boathouse, the space will be shared by the Temple University rowing and crew teams and the Philadelphia Police Marine Unit.