801 Market Street: "green" initiatives to revitalize Strawbridge’s Building

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA, JUNE 2008 — Shoemaker announces the start of renovation of the former Strawbridge’s Building at 801 Market Street in Philadelphia.

The work encompasses space owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), which includes the first six floors above ground as well as retail areas located adjacent to the SEPTA concourse below. Program spaces include: approximately 225,000 square feet of office space on floors 4 6; 200,000 square feet of retail space suitable for a department store on floors 2 3; 115,000 square feet of retail space for smaller tenants on the street level and concourse; and 100,000 square feet of common space, including the main lobby, elevator lobbies on floors 2 6 and basement level storage and mechanical spaces.

Our scope of work involves the demolition and reconstruction of interior spaces. HVAC, plumbing and electrical distribution systems will be replaced. Four elevators will be modernized and rooftop elevator machinery and utility equipment will be upgraded.

PREIT will seek "Silver" certification for the project under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Construction activities related to the green building program include:

• Recovery of recyclable materials during demolition. Materials being sorted on site include ceiling plaster, wooden wall partitions and metal framing in ceilings and walls. Roof-mounted mechanical piping and equipment, chillers, boilers, heat exchangers, air handlers, ductwork, electric switchgear and transformers—some of which date back to the 1920’s—also contain recyclable metals. In addition, display cases, slatwalls, casework and related fixtures will be reclaimed for resale and reuse.
• Use of recycled materials for core and shell construction. Subcontractors are required to purchase materials with recycled content where possible. For example, Pencoyd Iron Works plans to use I beams and metal decking that contain a high percentage of recycled content.
• Use of environmentally sensitive materials, such as low VOC paints and special refrigerants in the cooling system.
• Local purchasing. Subcontractors are encouraged to use local sources (within 500 miles) to reduce the environmental impacts of long-distance shipping.
• Mechanical system improvements. The building will be equipped with all new roof-top mechanical units that meet high-efficiency performance standards.

Another goal of this project is to preserve building details with historic significance. Demolition crews are taking care to save the ornate plaster beams between columns, as well as numerous rosettes and column moldings. An existing staircase will be disassembled from an upper floor and reassembled on the basement level. Original elevator doors will be reused. Also, the Corinthian Dining Room contains historic fabric wall coverings, wood paneling, crown molding, French doors, chandeliers and leaded glass windows, all of which will be preserved.

801 Market Street was once the address of Thomas Jefferson’s office as Secretary of State from 1890-1893. Strawbridge & Clothier erected a six-story building on the site in 1897; that building was replaced in 1928 with the present high-rise structure. The retailer maintained its flagship department store and offices there until May 2006. PREIT acquired the lower six floors of the building, along with the adjacent Gallery shopping mall, later in 2006.

Shoemaker will complete this project in joint venture with our MBE partner, Synterra, Ltd. The design team is led by Bower Lewis Thrower Architects of Philadelphia.

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