Franklin Street Station Intermodal Center Restoration

LOCATION: Reading, Pennsylvania

OWNER: Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA)

START DATE: 03/2010

END DATE: 01/2013

SSA led a multidisciplinary team for the restoration of the 1929 station. The station now serves as a transportation hub for bus services, other amenities and the planned restoration of rail service between Reading and the Norristown/Philadelphia area. The project scope included redeveloping the surrounding property for parking, bus use, pedestrian connectivity, and rail access. Among the design challenges was sensitively integrating the new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems so as not to compromise the station’s historic integrity. SSA also coordinated SHPO approval, an environmental assessment, public outreach, and communication with Norfolk Southern and FTA. The station now also includes a small museum and food service space. In 2013, this project received the Ralph Modjeski Award for Excellence in Transportation Design, Preservation and Archaeology from Preservation Pennsylvania, the Diamond Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania, and the Award of Excellence by The Architectural Woodwork Institute.