structures + BUILDINGS
The hotel’s main lobby features the original 30-foot-tall windows, plaster crown molding ceiling, and marble flooring with mosaic tiling.
A three-story steel-frame addition to the Aloft hotel connects to the neighboring Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Renovated bank building displays a rich architectural history and offers luxury accommodations. By Albert Meyer, P.E. Aloft breathes new life into a landmark building
On the second level of the new steel-frame addition is an outdoor space named “the Backyard.”
On Aug. 31, 2017, the historic Liberty Title and Trust building in Phila- delphia reopened its doors as the Aloft Philadelphia Downtown hotel after nearly 20 years of vacancy. First built in 1929, the Liberty Title and Trust building is the only structure along the corridor to survive the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Today, the fully renovated bank building harkens back to Philadelphia’s rich architec- tural history, while offering all the luxury amenities of a modern hotel. The 90-year-old building, originally designed by Philadelphia archi- tectural firm Savery & Scheetz, has been transformed into a modern building while keeping its historic roots. Providing façade restoration and structural engineering services, The Harman Group worked closely with developers Realen Properties and HRI Properties and architects Blackney Hayes Architects to breathe new life into this historic prop- erty. Early on, the team was determined to preserve the original aesthetic and authenticity of the old Liberty Title and Trust building while also giving it a more modern look. The Starwood Hotels and Resorts group, which owns the Aloft hotel, wanted to create a brand for millennials,
but understood the historical importance of this iconic building. One of the most notable examples of this balance is seen immediately when stepping into the hotel’s main lobby, which features the original 30-foot-tall windows, plaster crown molding ceiling, and marble floor- ing with mosaic tiling. Neon and rolling electronic signs outlining the entrance to the elevators instantly reminds guests that this is a building for the modern traveler. While undergoing renovations, The Harman Group ran into a few chal- lenges. The major issues were the lack of architectural or structural drawings of the 181,000-square-foot building. Compounding this, ex- isting finishes from the previous uses were in place and could not be demolished to allow a field survey of the existing structure prior to completion and issue of bid documents. The engineering team had to make its best educated guesses as to what the original design was, and essentially redesign elements of the new fit out from scratch as the renovation moved forward. The lack of drawings and field survey information led to several unex- pected discoveries as the renovation moved forward. During the initial
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csengineermag.com
january 2018
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