BRIDESBURG PARK DESIGN UNVEILED

All along the Delaware River, derelict industrial sites are being transformed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department and the Delaware River City Corporation into a string of waterfront parks interconnected by trail extensions that will become part of the East Coast Greenway.  In the Bridesburg neighborhood, SITIO, in collaboration with Langan Engineers and Ground Reconsidered, recently unveiled the design for a new 10-acre park to the community.   SITIO’s design for the park’s pavilions - to include a performance stage, a picnic pavilion, restrooms and way-finding signposts - found inspiration in the brawny infrastructure and industrial character of the bridges and structures that surround the sweeping waterfront site. The creation of this large Park will also feature event spaces, terrace seating, boardwalks offering sweeping views out into the waterfront, and connections to the Richmond and K&T trails to the north.

ANTONIO FIOL-SILVA SERVES ON THE 2018 CNU AWARDS JURY

The Congress for the New Urbanism recently convened a Charter Awards jury of distinguished designers, architects, planners and scholars to review entries and selected winners for the 2018 CNU Charter Awards.   Antonio, a recipient of two CNU Charter Awards, joined a distinguished Jury Co-Chaired by Maurice Cox, Director of Planning for the City of Detroit, and Jennifer Hurley, Principal at Hurley-Franks & Associates.   Award applicants were judged on the extent to which they fulfill and advance the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism, which defines the essential qualities of outstanding buildings and urban places. This year’s jury had a particular interest in equitable and inclusive placemaking.

Since 2002, CNU's annual Charter Awards have recognized outstanding achievements in architectural, landscape, and urban design and planning worldwide. Regarded as the preeminent award for excellence in urban design, the CNU Charter Awards honors a select number of winners.  Winning projects represent major contributions to building more equitable, sustainable, connected, healthy, and prosperous communities.

Learn more about the CNU Charter Awards at  https://www.cnu.org/charter-awards.  The Charter Awards will be presented at CNU’s 26th Congress on May 16-19 in in Savanah, GA, https://www.cnu.org/cnu26

NEWMAN CENTER UNVEILS PLANS FOR ITS NEW HOME

The Newman Center in Philadelphia’s University City, home to the Penn Newman Catholic Community and the Drexel Newman Catholic Community, unveiled plans for its new home at 38th and Chestnut Streets at the heart of Philadelphia’s University City.  The 30,000 s.f. state-of-the-art facility integrates two stately stone buildings through a new glass-enclosed garden pavilion to create a seamless Newman Center that is engaging of its campus context.   

The Center’s program includes a large 200-seat meeting space conducive to receptions, dinners and lectures; a large lounge for informal gatherings and events; meeting rooms; offices and a chapel.  The buildings will be accessed through a gracious entry plaza off 38th Street, and a green courtyard off Chestnut Street that is designed to both serve as a contemplative oasis, as well as a vessel for receptions and events.  

SITIO’s project team includes Studio Bryan Hanes as Landscape Architect, Bruce Brooks & Associates as MEP engineers, Larsen & Landis as structural engineers, and BEAM lighting designers. Intech Construction is the general contractor, with a March 2018 groundbreaking set for the initial phase of construction. 

SKYLINE WEST BRINGS MODERN LIVING TO HISTORIC BETHLEHEM

Hot off the Press! Nestled in a wooded site perched over the Monocacy Creek, Skyline West connects luxury living to the vibrant heart of downtown Bethlehem while offering the quite respite of the natural surroundings.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2018/01/new_5-story_apartment_building.html

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws-historic-bethlehem-jeff-parks-apartments-20180118-story.html

SITIO'S KAREN BLANCHARD INDUCTED AS 2018 AIA PHILADELPHIA PRESIDENT

SITIO is delighted to announce that Principal Karen Blanchard was inducted as the 2018 President of AIA Philadelphia at a ceremony held at the Philadelphia Athenaeum.  Leading to her election as President Karen served as a member of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and Co-Chair of the Women In Architecture.  Karen, a past recipient of the AIA Philadelphia Young Architect Award, looks forward to expanding the AIA’s mission of design advocacy and peer mentorship.  SITIO is proud of our history of service to AIA Philadelphia, building upon Antonio Fiol-Silva’s contributions as AIA Philadelphia President in 2014.

KAREN BLANCHARD PRESENTS AT AIA QUAD CONFERENCE PANEL

SITIO’s Karen Blanchard presented with architectural leaders from New Jersey, New York, and New England at the AIA Quad Conference in Albany, NY on November 10th. This panel presented professional experiences in creative design practices as well as the different challenges and opportunities that have impacted their work and career paths. Karen shared her involvement as the AIA Philadelphia Women In Architecture Co-Chair since 2013, focusing on the organization’s engagement not only to women in the design industry but to all emerging practitioners.

SITIO PROUD TO SPONSOR PUERTO RICO DISASTER RELIEF BENEFIT CONCERT

SITIO was proud to sponsor the Puerto Rico disaster relief benefit concert at Bethlehem’s SteelStacks on Sunday November 6th.  Antonio Fiol-Silva joined Puerto Rican community leaders and Lehigh Valley Mayors and Council Members to welcome notable local Latin musicians who performed a free concert to collect donations.  All funds will go directly to Puerto Rico hurricane relief through Concilio-Philadelphia. Donations are still being accepted - checks can be made payable to Concilio-Unidos PA’ PR and can be mailed to HGSK Law Firm, 1349 Lynn Ave., Bethlehem 18015.

TALLER PUERTORRIQUENO CULTURAL CENTER RECEIVES AIA PHILADELPHIA DESIGN AWARD

Taller Puertorriqueno Cultural Center received a Merit Design Award at the AIA Philadelphia 2017 Design Awards Gala. Known as El Corazón Cultural del Barrio (The Cultural Heart of Latino Philadelphia), Taller Puertorriqueño uses art to promote development within its community and the Latino Diaspora and build bridges to the Greater Philadelphia region. SITIO Principal Antonio Fiol-Silva lead the project from feasibility to design and construction as designer and Principal-In-Charge.

A SHINING STAR: NATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS HIGHLIGHT STEELSTACKS' IMPACT ON COMMUNITY AND NATION

InQ, ArtsQuest's Magazine, reflects on the meaning of SteelStacks' successes in A SHINING STAR: National Design Awards Highlight SteelStacks' Impact on Community and Nation.   Hear from Bethlehem Leaders and SITIO Principal Antonio Fiol-Silva in the What they're saying about SteelStacks sidebar.   Click here to access the article by Mark Demko.

DESIGN OF NEW RIVERFRONT PARK IN BRIDESBURG KICKS OFF

Langan Engineering and Ground Reconsidered landscape architects, together with SITIO architecture + urbanism, began work on the new Bridesburg Riverfront Park and facilities, which will become a significant trailhead and gateway to the North Delaware Riverfront/East Coast Greenways.  

The 10+-acre park on the Delaware River, developed by the Delaware River City Corporation in partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation, will open access to a spectacular panoramic swath of the Delaware River just north of the old Pennsylvania Railroad Lift and Betsy Ross Bridges.

STEELSTACKS ARTS AND CULTURAL CAMPUS RECEIVES 2017 RUDY BRUNER AWARD

Bethlehem’s SteelStacks campus was presented with the national Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence on Thursday September 7th. This multi-phased project was a part of a public-private partnership that involved, among others, the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, ArtsQuest, PBS39, and the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, who donated the land on the historic Bethlehem Steel plant site. On behalf of this multi-award winning project, Tony Hanna, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, accepted this gold medal award - the Rudy Bruner’s highest recognition of urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America’s cities.  SITIO's Antonio Fiol-Silva spoke about the unique challenges of the site and the transformational impacts that enhanced a vibrant arts and cultural community.  Fiol-Silva lead the SteelStacks Master Plan, The Levitt Pavilion, and the Hoover-Mason Trestle projects as Principal-In-Charge and Planner, and Karen Blanchard was the Design Architect.

ANTONIO FIOL-SILVA SERVES AS A ULI EXPERT ON CREATIVE PLACEMAKING IN DETROIT

ULI Michigan hosted a workshop with national and local experts to generate placemaking ideas for the Henry Ford Health System’s new state-of-the-art cancer center, which will be located south of its campus in Detroit’s New Center.  Made possible by a Creative Placemaking grant from ULI’s Building Healthy Places Initiative, with the generous support of the Kresge Foundation, the workshop - Chaired by ULI’s Senior Visiting Fellow in Creative Placemaking Juanita Hardy - explored opportunities to create active living, nutrition, education and community green space that links the cancer center with other healthy lifestyle assets in Detroit.