HSA’s adaptive reuse design of this abandoned boiler house has created a state-of-the-art LEED Platinum, transit-oriented office space. The design carefully preserves key elements of the well-known landmark, following Ambler's revitalization efforts of existing real estate.

In 1881, the Keasbey & Mattison Company decided to move their manufacturing business from Philadelphia to Ambler, which was already a thriving farming and industrial community.  Entrepreneur Henry G. Keasbey and Dr. Richard V. Mattison began constructing factory buildings and warehouse facilities such as the Ambler Boiler House, creating jobs that brought many new people to the Ambler area.

The Ambler Boiler House manufactured asbestos building materials and industrial supplies until the company collapsed with the Great Depression. The Ambler Boiler House is one of only a few remaining Keasbey & Mattison structures, reminding the area’s inhabitants of the company’s significant impact on the local community as well as the long standing consequences of its industrial asbestos operations.

In the 1980s, the EPA contained the site, protecting and addressing any asbestos materials. Summit Realty Advisors, with John Zaharchuck at the helm, developed a plan for the property and in 2011 extensive removal of asbestos material began. During this remediation, Heckendorn Shiles Architects developed designs for the adaptive reuse of the building, proposing to restore the existing structure and preserve historic features.

The project team coordinated with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Bureau for Historic Preservation, the Ambler Borough’s Main Street efforts, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Green Building Council for the extensive restoration, LEED and brownfield redevelopment efforts.

With close proximity to the SEPTA regional rail station, existing roadways and available utility services, the project is a responsible approach to commercial development. While carefully preserving the well‐known exterior features, HSA created approximately 48,000 square feet of office space.

Over 60% of the walls, floors and structure were adaptively maintained, diverting building materials from landfill because of their re‐use. Existing openings, such as entries and windows were re‐glazed and incorporated into the design. Regional materials were utilized as much as possible to reduce transportation cost.

The design team introduced low‐emitting, low‐VOC finishes to reduce “off‐gassing” and provide better indoor air quality.

The environmental engineer created a unique project approach to abatement of hazardous materials as well as addressing a proposed brownfield redevelopment with close adjacencies to dense residential neighborhoods. The building’s main source of heating and cooling is provided by a sophisticated geothermal system, where 54 individual wells were drilled over 500 feet deep, on the building’s very limited site. The introduction of day‐lighting spaces and the reuse of the rooftop light monitor will reduce the need for artificial light within the building - further contributing to lower the buildings energy consumption.

A system was installed to reduce storm water runoff and reduce reliance on the public water supply. The system will capture rainwater and filter it to an internal cistern for re‐use as non‐potable water for the landscape irrigation.

The property was ripe for adaptive reuse as a commercial office, transit-oriented development, with its close proximity to the SEPTA Regional Rail line, existing roadways, utility services, and downtown Ambler.

Construction of the $16 million, 48,000 square-foot core and shell office building was completed in Summer 2012, with first tenants moving in during the fall of the same year.  These final steps fulfilled the joint goals of contributing to Ambler’s local economy and preserving the historical link to its past. 

The historic Keasbey & Mattison brick masonry shell, which had deteriorated into a local eyesore and brownfield site, has now been transformed into a LEED Platinum certified, multi‐tenanted, transit‐oriented office space.