Expanding Footprint, Growth and Changing Workspace Requirements

Eighteen months ago a relationship blossomed between the First Presbyterian Church of Reading and Spotts, Stevens and McCoy (SSM). The result was a mutually advantageous sale of the firm’s Wyomissing facility allowing First Presbyterian to build a suburban presence, and SSM to reinvest resources into growing the business and addressing facility needs for a diverse and mobile staff. An expanded geographic footprint in the Southeastern and Central PA, Lehigh Valley communities where SSM serves a growing client base and implementation of workplace strategies that encourage flexible work arrangements, mobility, and integration of technology are just a few of the results from the sale of the building.

SSM recently completed the reconfiguration of our headquarters office at 1047 North Park Road and is hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 26, 2018 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm to commemorate the newly-renovated office space and entranceway. Brian R. Kelly, President and CEO, will be leading the ceremony at 12:30 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be served featuring locally-known Berks Hot Dogs as well as a build-your-own sundae bar for dessert by the Sweet Ride ice cream truck.

The new SSM Lancaster Regional Office opened August 1, 2018 and is located in the Newport Commons community at 701 Creekside Lane in Lititz, PA.

This office will also house dedicated and mobile staff to serve a growing base of Central PA clients. To celebrate the grand opening of the new office, SSM will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on October 10, 2018.

In addition, on October 1st a new, larger office at the Roma Corporate Center in Allentown will allow the firm to house a growing staff to serve Lehigh Valley.

Spottlight on Shopping

Video Killed the Radio Star . . . but What Killed the Shopping Mall?

With less than one thousand shopping malls left in the United States, it’s fair to ask, who, or what, killed shopping malls? The 1950’s brought the population explosion to the suburbs, which welcomed the traditional shopping mall as a prosperous, indoor retail venue with rows of shops, including large “anchor” stores such as Sears and Macy’s, that would connect the smaller shops at each point. Shoppers would spend hours at the mall. But lately, the average time spent shopping is under an hour. In an effort to perpetuate prosperity, shopping malls have been morphing into what researchers call “lifestyle centers”.

So, what brought about this titanic shift in how and where we shop; and what brought on the demise of the traditional shopping mall? The answer is compound. Reasons such as a population shift away from the suburbs and back into the city is one major factor. The decrease of average income brought on by the recession is also to blame and led to discount chains occupying spaces where swanky shops once flourished. Another factor is a generation of “lazy” shoppers who want quick delivery without travel, easier returns, more greenspace. These shoppers also tend to spend more on leisure, experiences, upscale restaurants, and technology. The days of going to shopping centers to simply purchase clothes or shoes are dead and gone, because, frankly, there’s an Amazon for that.

In order to fulfill the needs of today’s buyers, developers and real estate gurus realized the importance of forward-thinking in their approach to revamping the “shopping mall”. With hundreds of large retailers downsizing or going out of business, suburbs across the nation are left with empty lots that need to be re-purposed and redeveloped to adhere to the needs of shoppers. One common theme is the recreation of the “Main Street” or  “downtown”, which the modern-day shopping mall pushed to extinction. This retroactive shift will see the repurposing of old retail centers into experiential “lifestyle” centers, where the public can live, eat, work, and play, while still being drawn in with some upscale and chain retail stores.

In addition to living space, recent trends show the re-use of old shopping centers for bowling alleys, event venues, grocery stores, small businesses, movie theaters and fitness centers. Even DMVs, libraries, and walk-in health clinics are appearing for public convenience. For example, what was once the Granite Run Mall in Delaware County, PA., has now transformed into the Granite Run Promenades with the help of The Martin Architectural Group. This mall’s eye-catching multi-use makeover includes luxury apartments adjacent to the center, while other sections were repurposed into an outdoor oasis of finer dining, movie theaters and upgraded shopping. This successful upgrade focused on appeasing shoppers’ experiential and lifestyle needs while welcoming greenspace.

Instead of saying “R.I.P.” to the traditional shopping mall, today’s customers might choose to look at it as more of a reincarnation of the old and outdated, into the new and purposeful

Meeting the Needs of the Changing Retail Space

Shark Finn Inn and Restaurant | C2 Architects

SSM engineers provided design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the conversion of a former furniture store into the 7,000 square foot restaurant and bar.

Fresh City Restaurant | C2 Architects

SSM engineers provided design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for 4,200 square foot restaurant in the Livingston Town Center Mall.

John Harvard Brewhouse | CVM Engineers

SSM engineers provided MEP design for this restaurant brew house.

Student Union and Services Building | Lincoln University

SSM provided structural engineering for an approximately 15,000 square foot addition to the Student Union and Services Building at Lincoln University. The project also included significant upgrades to the existing building area. The existing two story concrete framed building was expanded on three sides by the addition of a two story, steel-framed structure. The upgrades included the addition or modification of a mailroom, bookstore, cinema viewing area, offices, game room, two story atrium, storage and maintenance areas, and a multi-purpose area. The existing structure was analyzed and reinforced as required for new loads, including new rooftop mechanical equipment. The structural design included design of foundations, ground floor slab, retaining walls, elevated floor slabs, steel framing, and roof deck. We also performed construction phase services including structural shop drawing reviews, responding to contractor’s “Request for Information (RFI)”, and occasional site visits to review construction.

West Hall Dormitory | University of the Virgin Islands

Provided HVAC, plumbing and electrical design for a 37,000 square foot residence hall. The project went from conception to occupancy in 13 months. Provided design for new three story, 100 room dormitory on the St Thomas Campus. Design included providing a new service for the dormitory from VIWAPA, the local utility, 13.2 kV – 480 volt distribution transformer, 480/277 volt power distribution to the buildings HVAC equipment and lighting and lighting control systems and 480 to 208/120 volt step-down transformers for each floor to provide general power distribution to the dorm rooms and common space on each floor. Design also included telecommunications wiring, data closets, wireless access points for wireless data communications within the building, fire alarm, and grounding.

Fitness Center | Olympus America Inc.

SSM assessed the existing HVAC systems capability to support the renovation of a portion of the first floor of Building D creating a fitness center. We reviewed the existing capacity of the HVAC system serving the area that may become a fitness center including expansion of the toilet room area into a toilet room and shower area and provided a letter summary of the evaluation including description of the work required to adapt the existing HVAC system to serve the fitness area and highlight potential areas of concern.

Gateway Motion and Fitness

SSM has been engaged with the Owners of Midway Fitness since 2012, performing a building energy audit and expansion feasibility projects for their existing facility located in Rehoboth DE. After the owners’ decision to relocate, SSM was engaged to provide due diligence and concept planning for alternate sites with existing structures and ultimately, the greenfield site selected for development of a new facility, Gateway Motion and Fitness. Due diligence and concept planning included site and civil engineering, and multi-disciplinary building systems.

Performing Arts Center | SMG

Provided structural engineering services to perform an investigation to determine the cause of the mezzanine ceiling failure at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.

Our scope of work included analysis of a fly bridge over the stage and investigations of a mezzanine and masonry wall.

Structural Capacity | Tait Towers

SSM structural engineers provided services at Tait Towers, a musical performance practice facility for large productions. Services included determining maximum hoist loads, studies to determine floor capacities for carts, and structural review analysis for building cranes and roof top units.

Multi-Services Building for SEI | Blue Rock Construction

Project manager and lead mechanical engineer for the design of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services associated with new 30,000 sf building providing conference facilities, a fitness center, and kitchen and cafeteria.

Auditorium Structural Study | Alvernia University

Conducted an investigation and new design of the lighting rigging supports in the University’s main auditorium.

Join our Growing Team!

We are actively recruiting for qualified applicants to fill a variety of positions.

•A Project Representative - Construction Observer to inspect structures and infrastructure using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications and other regulations.

•An entry-level CAD Drafter is a fast-paced, customer-facing position that collects thorough building information (mechanical, architectural, etc.) and assembles the data in a standard format.

•A highly motivated, performance driven, team-oriented Structural Engineer to assist our clients in the industrial, healthcare, higher education, research, and municipal markets.

•A Senior Water Engineer to work with our engineering staff to support our work in the water, water resources, and wastewater engineering markets on projects such as municipal treatment facilities, distribution systems, collection systems, sanitary and storm sewers and storm water.

•A Senior Civil Engineer to manage municipal projects and perform technical assignments involving storm water management, MS4, local road improvements, and related civil engineering projects.

•A Civil Engineer in our municipal engineering group to perform technical assignments involving Storm Water Management, Local Road Improvements and related projects.