Fall 2016 Infrastructure Matters
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FALL 2016 INFRASTRUCTURE MATTERS Mayor Kenney’s Vision for Philadelphia The Reading Viaduct Rail Park The Complete Streets Movement www.keasthood.com New Construction • Renovation • Addition STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS • Adaptive Reuse • Historic Preservation • Masonry Stabilization • Structural Intervention Providing Exterior Masonry & Facade Restoration Expertise Since 1953 823014_Keast.indd 1 9/2/16 3:27 AM We specialize in high quality building products featuring Duradek™ waterproof system and Durarail™ powder coated aluminum rails. Duradek™ is a roofi ng approved vinyl membrane that comes in a variety of colors and patterns for decks, patios, and balconies. Durarail™ products off er maintenance free railing with a 20-year structural warranty. 7099 William Penn Highway, Easton, PA 18045-29366 Waterproofing Over 40 Years www.specialtybldgsystems.com SpecialtyToll Free: (800) 765-9865 Building • Fax: (610) 954-0598 Systems E-mail: [email protected] 790809_Specialty.indd 1 2/24/16 5:43 PM PHOTO: MICHAEL HIRSCH PHOTO: Fall 2016 – IN THIS ISSUE We dig into the concerns facing the Nation’s crumbling infrastructure and explore their impact on a 21st century Philadelphia. FEATURES 12 Mayor Kenney’s Infrastructure Policy An inside look at Mayor Kenney’s vision for a smarter, greener, better Philadelphia. 16 Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia: The Reading Viaduct Rail Park DEPARTMENTS Is the Reading Viaduct Rail Park the next great Philadelphia square? 5 EDITORS’ LETTER 6 COMMUNITY 10 UP CLOSE 28 EXPRESSION 30 DESIGN PROFILES 37 MARKETPLACE 20 Streets: They’re Not Just for Cars Any More 38 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Communities in the Delaware Valley and across the nation are embracing the Complete Streets initiative. CONTEXT is published by 5950 NW 1st Place, Gainesville, FL 32607 (800) 369-6220, www.naylor.com. Publisher Tom Schell, Group Publisher Jack Eller, Sales and Project Manager David Freeman, Editor Ann DeLage, Marketing Nancy Taylor, Book Leader Krys D’Antonio, Designer GK DS, 24 Infrastructure: Important Thoughts and Account Representatives Lou Brandow, Anook Commandeur, Ralph Herzberg, Application to Regional Projects Infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth. Nicholas Manis, Phillip Maxwell, Chris Zabel, Brian Zeig The opinions expressed in this – or the representations made by advertisers, including copyrights and warranties, are not those of the editorial staff, publisher, AIA Philadelphia, or AIA Philadelphia’s Board of Directors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Postmaster: send change of address to AIA Philadelphia, 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Published OCTOBER 2016/AIP-Q0316/3615 AIA Philadelphia | context | FALL 2016 3 2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Denise Thompson, AIA, President Frank Grauman, FAIA, President-Elect My Vision... Troy Hannigan, Assoc. AIA, Treasurer is to enhance a home’s historical beauty with updated living spaces. James W. Rowe, AIA, Past President | Secretary Karen Blanchard, AIA, Chapter Director Kiki Bolender, AIA, Chapter Director Kira Broecker, AIA, Chapter Director Jeffrey Krieger, AIA, Chapter Director Brian Szymanik, AIA, Chapter Director Kelly Vresilovic, AIA, LEED AP, Chapter Director Alesa Rubendall, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Chapter Director Catherine (Katie) Broh, AIA, LEED AP, Chapter Director Paul Avazier, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, Chapter Director John B Campbell, AIA, ARIAS, RIBA, LEED AP, Chapter Director Jeff Pastva, AIA, AIA PA Director Robert C. Kelly, AIA, AIA PA Director Jared Edgar McKnight, Assoc. AIA, Kolbe’s capacity to provide multiple types Associate Director and styles of windows allowed us to Michael J. Fierle, Assoc. AIA, Associate Director Tya Winn, Public Member transform the antiquated spaces of this Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director historical home into light-filled rooms that are the focus of family life. – Spence Kass, AIA | Kass & Associates | Philadelphia, PA CONTEXT EDITORIAL BOARD Bringing your vision to life takes a higher level of creativity and expertise – who you choose matters. Contact our experts for a personal design consultation. Our extensive showroom and knowledgeable staff will help you choose the right CO-CHAIRS Kolbe products for your project. Harris M. Steinberg, FAIA, Drexel University Todd Woodward, AIA, SMP Architects 186 Old York Road New Hope, PA | 888-292-5872 BOARD MEMBERS 1304 Goshen Parkway STE 200 West Chester, PA Wolfram Arendt, AIA, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson 800-887-7220 www.northamericanwindow.com William W. Braham, Ph.D., FAIA, University of Pennsylvania © 2016 Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc. David Brownlee, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania Jon Coddington, AIA, Drexel University Susan Miller Davis, AIA Sally Harrison, AIA, Temple University 829014_North.indd 1 19/09/16 2:41 PMTim Kerner, AIA, Terra Studio Elizabeth Miller, Community Design Collaborative Stephen P. Mullin, Econsult Corporation Rashida Ng, RA, Temple University Jeff Pastva, AIA, JDavis Architects Richard Roark, ASLA, Olin Rachel Simmons Schade, AIA, Drexel University David Zaiser, AIA, WRA STAFF Rebecca Johnson, AIA Philadelphia Executive Director Elizabeth Paul, Managing Editor Laurie Churchman, Designlore, Art Director 4 FALL 2016 | context | AIA Philadelphia EDITOR’S LETTER BY STEPHEN P. MULLIN AND DAVID ZAISER, AIA Properly maintaining, expanding, and upgrading our nation’s physi- cal infrastructure is a necessary ingredient for increasing productivity and growing living standards. Conventional wisdom holds that the U.S. is Building a 21st not properly maintaining or upgrading our basic infrastructure. The 2013 report card issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave Century Philadelphia the U.S. a grade of D+ for the overall condition of U.S. schools, public buildings, roads, bridges, ports, water, wastewater, levees, energy, transit, rail, waterways, aviation, solid and hazardous waste, and dams; up only slightly from a grade of D in 2009. Much of our basic infrastructure is past its useful life. It’s been 60 years since the signing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 – the legislation PHOTO: KAZI M. HASSAN KAZI M. PHOTO: that famously created the interstate highway system – but funds to main- tain this system have not kept up with needed repairs and upgrades. Our highways are not the only example. Bridges, transit systems, rail, water, ports, and sewer systems, our electric grid, and even our air-traffic control systems suffer from suboptimal reinvestment. While certain high-profile infrastructure failures capture our attention and generate consternation and plenty of hot air, the concern dissipates rapidly and typically without much structural improvement. These big stories grab attention, but the real infrastructure problems are far broader and their impacts are stealthier. By its very nature, investment in physical infrastructure is not very sexy, and besides immediate construction employ- ment, its benefits come well into the future. As a result, public reinvestment lags since public spending generating immediate benefits garner political attention and crowd out potential infrastructure investment funds. We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to these needs, but can we afford to do what needs to be done? According to the ASCE 2013, the overall cost to repair and upgrade these essential systems is estimated to be $3.6 trillion by 2020 – requiring a significantly greater portion of our GDP than has been allocated to infrastructure in recent decades. We may not be able to avoid these costs, but we still have choices. We can spend our infrastructure dollars recreating a 20th century infrastructure of the past, or we can use them to create a 21st century infrastructure for the next 50 years – an infrastructure focused on renewable resources, sustainable practices and better lives for all of us. Design professionals are already taking the lead in re-imagining what this 21st century infrastructure can be. These design professionals along with engineers are figuring out how to develop infrastructure that costs less to build, generates greater efficiency benefits, and lasts longer. In this issue we consider not only the benefits inherent in improving our infrastructure here in Philadelphia, but also how our infrastructure of the past can be re-purposed to serve our new mission. We hope you enjoy it. ■ Stephen Mullin is President and Principal of Econsult Solutions, an economic consulting firm based in Philadelphia. His 16 year consulting practice con- centrates on state and public finance and policy analysis, economic and real estate development and impact analyses, and business-government strategies. David Zaiser is an Associate at Whitman Requardt and Associates LLP special- izing in the planning and design of college and university facilities for the firm’s Building Design Group. AIA Philadelphia | context | FALL 2016 5 COMMUNITY Dear Friends and Colleagues, Design on the Delaware at NeoCon East As the flurry of fall events surrounds us and fills up our calendars, I encourage you will offer 36 programs, up to 15 tours, to make time for the Design on the Delaware Conference, November 9-12, 2016. New and 3 general sessions. In addition to the this year is that we will be hosting exhibitors, breakfast, lunch, Opening Reception, general sessions listed below, we are once again and a special Emerging Professionals Track at the Center for Architecture and Design. partnering with NeoCon East – boasting more than We will still host our keynote speakers and educational