Adaptive Reuse Solutions Help Breathe New Life Into 1890s Boiler House
The AmblerBoiler House has completed its impressive transformation, from abandoned Brownfield site, to aclean, green and LEED-Platinum-certifiedstate-of-the art office spaceand transit-oriented development. Part of a $16 million adaptive reuse project spearheaded by developerJohn Zaharchuk ofSummit Realty Advisors,the adaptive reusehas created approximately 48,000 square feet of office space and that will accommodate 6 tenants. Heckendorn Shiles Architects, ofWayne, PAis the lead design firm on the project.
“We’re incorporating cutting-edge green design and adaptive reuse techniques, while preservingso much of the original details and components of this wonderful late 19th century structure,” says Mitch Shiles, AIA, founder and principal at Heckendorn Shiles Architects. “It’s a great venture that exemplifies the optimism and revitalization of the town of Ambler.”
Back in the 1800s, Keasbey&Mattisonbegan producing asbestos for a variety of products, and built factories and warehouses throughout the northeast. The company eventually came to Ambler where, in 1897, they built the Boiler Houseas a power-generating station. By World War I, Keasbey&Mattisonwas the world’s largest manufacturer of asbestos products. But when the GreatDepressionhit in the 1930s, the companynever fully recovered.
The company eventually sold the building and land. By the 1980s, the site was vacant and had to undergo remediation due to asbestos-laden debris that remained there over the years.The EPA spent $5 million to abate the asbestos material throughout the site.
For years, the empty Boiler House stood as a sad reminder of Ambler’s long-gone prosperity. Then, about ten years ago,the Ambler Main Street,a resident-backednon-profit organization,launched a successful campaign torevitalize the town.The effort became so successful that, eventually, Philadelphia magazinenamed Ambler one of “10 Cool Neighborhoods (You’ve Never Heard Of) (2003).”
Around that time, Summit – with Zaharchuk at the helm – purchased the property. The Summit, supported by Heckendorn Shiles Architects,began envisioning the Boiler House as a new office development that would add to Ambler’s renewal. Everything seemed right about the project. Besides Ambler’s renewal, the project was considered ideal because of its proximityto the R-5 SEPTA rail station, and to existing roadways and available utility services. This transportation link wouldlikely encouragemore commercial development, public transportation, and help merge the site into existing downtown Ambler. The terrible state of the U.S. economy, however,made real estate developments like these almost impossible. The project remained alive - but on hold.
Then cameEnergyWorks. Created by the Metropolitan Caucus, a coalition of Commissioners and Council Members from four surrounding counties, and the Mayor of Philadelphia, EnergyWorksis a comprehensive energy solutions program for home and commercial or industrial building owners. It helps owners find ways to reduce energy use in their buildings. EnergyWorks’ low-interest loans also help owners pay for their upgrades. The program is supported by a grant from the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Program.
Summit applied for assistance through EnergyWorks, and received it. In addition to this loan, the Boiler House project received fundingfrom Montgomery County; The Montgomery County Commissioners, Department of Economic Development and the County Redevelopment Authority have strongly supported the project since its inception, as have Ambler Borough and the EPA.
The Boiler House project kicked off with the extensive remediationof asbestos in Fall 2010. Working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and using state grants and loans, Summit followed a site-specific remedial plan for the removal of asbestos-containing materials.
In the meantime, Heckendorn Shiles designed the “new” office building. The design goal has been torestore the existing structure, while carefully preserving itsdistinguishable exterior features. Another goal has beento obtain LEED Certification from the Unites States Green Building Council (USGBC). Heckendorn Shiles hasapplied several sustainable principles to the design. These include a Brownfield redevelopment, transit-oriented development, geothermal heat pump system, retention of existing structural systems, recycled rainwater irrigation system and recycled material content.
“Our challenge throughout the design, for both the Core/Shell as well as the tenant spaces, has been to marry the existing industrial shell with contemporary, sophisticated interior office design” commented Matt Heckendorn, AIA, principal at Heckendorn Shiles.
Core & Shell construction was completed in September 2012. The first round of tenants moved in to the building in early 2013.
