Municipality & Government

Located in Hamburg PA, our work included planning, design and construction management of a 5,000 SF municipal and police building. Municipal spaces, located on the first floor, include offices, 100-occupant meeting room, receptionist, tax office, fire-rated record storage and a break room. Police spaces, located on the second floor, include receptionist, holding cells, interrogation rooms, offices, squad room, conference room and evidence storage.

Design of a new 2,430 SF, two-story addition. The exterior features a new facade designed to match the existing 1940s fire station. Spaces include a 1,210 SF, two-unit garage on the lower level and a 1,220 SF upper level including EMS training/meeting room, file storage and a three-station office area. Additional renovations include remodeling of the existing toilet rooms and repair of the sidewalks in order to meet current ADA standards.

“After” photos by Patrick Neenan

Located in Morgantown PA, we handled the planning and design for the expansion and renovation of the existing fire company building. The project includes a 5,200 SF addition and complete renovation of the existing 13,600 SF building to meet current building, energy and ADA codes and to convert into Township offices, police station, meeting room, community center, recreation board and emergency services facility.

Provided planning and design for the existing Social Club. This included improvements to the bar and dining area with an enlarged bar and polished concrete floors, ADA restrooms and kitchen with new equipment. The Social Club remained open during construction.

Lower Alsace Township was experiencing efficiency problems due to separate facilities and space deficiencies. Watkins Architect was commissioned to develop planning and design for the expansion and renovation to the Township’s existing maintenance facility on Carsonia Avenue. The project included new maintenance garage bays and a second floor meeting room addition and the conversion of the existing second floor into the Township’s main offices with reception area, waiting area, ADA restrooms, break room and file storage. The exterior facade was completely transformed including the addition of a new sloped shingle roof and EIFS. The project consisted of 9,890 SF.

Provided full professional services, including civil, structural, and mechanical engineering in a design/build format for a new two-story, 12,000 SF facility. The structure is designed to be compatible with adjacent Social Hall building. The handicapped accessible facility will house the truck bays, radio room, EMS supply, cascade room, SCBA room, fitness room and mechanical room on the first floor. The second floor will accommodate the members’ quarters, day room and kitchen, offices, meeting room and men’s and women’s dorms and locker rooms.

Design of the enlarged entrance, metal detection/security office and miscellaneous renovations to alleviate congestion at the current entry of the Berks County Services Center Building.

Watkins Architect provided design services for a complete interior renovation and exterior facade design for the existing+/-3,800 SF administration building located in North East Philadelphia. The project includes administration offices, conference rooms and updated bathrooms redesigned to bring them into full ADA compliance. The complete building envelope was addressed to conform with current energy codes. A new exterior ramp was integrated to allow for accessibility and exiting conformity

Located in Shoemakersville PA, we handled the planning and construction drawings for a new office addition and renovations designed to alleviate space deficiencies of the existing township building. The 990 SF project includes a waiting area, offices, file storage and a facade renovation.

“After” photos by Patrick Neenan

Located in Lenhartsville PA, we handled the planning and design for the construction of a new maintenance garage addition and office renovations to the existing Township Building. The project included a 6,000 SF maintenance garage addition, conversion of the existing garage area to a township meeting room, offices, toilet rooms and break room.

Located in New Tripoli PA, we handled the planning and design for a new 2-story, 10,770 SF fire station. This unique design involved demolishing the existing outdated fire station addition form the original iconic brick school/converted banquet hall and constructing a new modern fire station addition. The new 7,790 SF first floor design provides six engine room bays, four of which have high ceilings for tilt cab maintenance, along with gear, SCBA and engineer’s rooms. The new 2,980 SF second floor provides offices, classrooms, lounge, kitchenette and future bunch rooms for career fire fighters.

Watkins Architect developed construction drawings for this new 18,000 SF fire station. The design provides the department with six engine room bays with high ceilings, allowing for cabs to be tilted for maintenance. The first floor also includes a full commercial kitchen, administrative offices, an 80-person meeting room/classroom, men’s and women’s toilet/shower rooms, file storage and gear/equipment storage. Two second floor areas provide additional storage for the engine room and space for future office expansion.

Front & Washington Parking Deck
We provided architectural services for this project which involved both a 750-car parking deck and an associated pedestrian walkway connecting the parking deck to North 2nd Street. The parking deck won the top award for the Institutional & Municipal Parking Congress.

Poplar & Walnut Parking Deck
We provided full architectural services for a project constructed adjacent to an existing residential neighborhood. The 1,000-car parking deck won numerous precast and concrete association awards.

2nd & Washington Parking Deck
We provided architectural services following a feasibility study for a 430-car parking structure. It was designed to incorporate street level retail to compliemtn the adjacent Google Works Art Center.

Located in Elizabethtown PA, we provided design services for the renovation and addition for an adaptive reuse of a former elementary school. The renovated facility will consolidate the township’s municipal, police and public works facilities into one shared complex.

Watkins Architect provided design & construction management of a 3,650 SF, 2 story kitchen addition and a 4,000 SF social club renovation to a 1940’s stone fire station/social club. This unique design of stacking 2 commercial kitchens with a dumbwaiter elevator between the lower & upper levels allows both kitchens to prep food for the existing upper level banquet hall. The custom bar top was created using reclaimed wood from the existing bowling alleys that once filled the space of the original social club. The addition also provided ADA ramp access to both the lower and upper levels of the existing 1940’s building

Located in Zionsville PA, we provided planning and design assistance for an expansion and renovation to the former King’s Highway school building. The project included a complete building renovation to meet current building, energy and ADA codes in order to convert the vacant elementary school into Township offices, a community and historical center, as well as a State representative office and emergency services.