Bold design of new R&D and Technology Center for Air Liquide in Newark, Delaware, by Bernardon Haber Holloway rated an “exemplary” project by Buildings magazine.  

July 2007 - Air Liquide’s beautiful new Technology Center in Newark, Delaware is designed to inspire creativity, innovation and collaboration among researchers and guests in its R&D network, while incorporating a connection to nature and the wise use of natural resources—themes brought together by Bernardon Haber Holloway, BHH Tait Interiors, and CUH2A, Inc., in a dramatic and powerful design to be featured in the October 2007 issue of Buildings magazine.

The overarching goal of the Technology Center design was to create a world-class facility that would encourage creativity in a collaborative environment.

“The new Center will enable us to accelerate innovation, discover new technologies and expand into new markets by making use of our employees’ wide range of talent…” said Francois Darchis, a member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee. A pioneer in development of industrial and medical gases, Air Liquide has research centers in France, Germany, Japan and the United States, and the company has invested $35 Million in the new Delaware Center. It is hoped that the new facility will leverage team synergies of the top university and scientific talent present in its various U.S. locations.

The 83,000 SF facility certainly makes a memorable impression on its visitors, with a dramatic, soaring canopy at its entrance that angles out toward the parking area—invoking movement, speed and action—and full-height glass walls in the lobby that bring the exterior environment into the building. The connection-to-nature theme is expanded with a curving glass wall that opens into a view of the exterior landscape, and by bringing natural light deep into the building with strategically placed skylights and interior windows.

Inside, a “main street” corridor runs the length of the building, connecting the lobby to the conference rooms, café, office areas and knowledge center, and large windows along the interior lab corridor allow visitors to observe lab activity without physically entering the lab. The “town center” design of café is a concept borrowed from the company’s facility in Paris, and is intended to be a community focal point for building users. The design of the lab spaces encourages collaboration between scientists, and is laid out with multiple exits and between-lab views, so researchers can look out or each other from separate rooms.

The project was recently reviewed by Buildings magazine, and was awarded a Citation of Excellence for New Construction by the publication’s Project Innovations 2007 program, which was announced at the Buildings Awards ceremony at the Javits Center in New York City during the BOMA Congress and The Office Building Show on July 22, 2007.

Showcasing Greater Philadelphia's Finest Architects

June 2007 - Before Art Bernardon, AIA, founded Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, over thirty years ago, he worked for another architect in a small office. The employer required and encouraged him to participate in all facets of the practice. The trial-by-fire approach quickly gave Bernardon knowledge of everything from accounting and client relations to comprehensive building design. The experience proved beneficial, both for the wealth of information it imparted, and also for the mindset it embodied. The firm Bernardon subsequently founded similarly encourages its staff, promotes an environment of creative collaboration, and has been recognized by the profession, community, and media.

Today, Bernardon Haber Holloway includes four principals – Bernardon, plus Kerry R. Haber, AIA, William E. Holloway, AIA, and Neil B. Liebman, AIA. More than sixty staff members, including architects and interior designers, are spread across three offices in Kennett Square and Downingtown, PA, and Wilmington, DE. Architecture, interior design, and land planning services are provided to a range of markets, including custom residential, corporate, golf and country clubs, retail, senior living, and healthcare, to name a few. The residential design studio is led by Art Bernardon and fifteen-year veterans of the firm, Doug Hertsenberg and Elizabeth Westcott.

Bernardon Haber Holloway’s vision statement, “Forging Client Goals Into Valuable Assets” is exemplified by a commitment to listening. The firm prides itself on hearing all of a client’s goals and investigating all of the project constraints before beginning a design. “There is nothing more rewarding than having a client confirm that we solved their problems,” says Bernardon, who explains that the built environment doesn’t always look the way a client initially envisioned, but it meets the goals – with value, efficiency, and interest – and fits within its context.

The firm’s philosophy of responsiveness and flexibility is clear through its collaborative nature. Design reviews are held regularly so that anyone in the firm can offer advice, criticism, encouragement, or an alternate concept. A quality assurance program provides consistency in technical knowledge and carefully detailed construction drawings. The design process is geared toward providing the most successful results to each client.

Bernardon Haber Holloway is proud of its community involvement in the region, and its staff members’ participation in professional organizations, including the American Institute of Architects. Awards and recognition from community and professional groups acknowledge the role that architecture plays in reinforcing the fabric of the community.

Custom residential projects have been featured in Traditional Home, Delaware Today, and The Hunt Magazine. “There are special talents that set our residential designers apart,” explains Bernardon. “Patience, persistence, and creativity. We are not just designing buildings . . . we are translating dreams into lifestyles.”

(featured in Dream Homes Greater Philadelphia, a book published by Panache Partners LLC)

Twin Valley Fire Department Awards Expansion to Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects

April 2007 - The Urge to Merge: Two fire companies serving multiple jurisdictions Berks and Chester County, Pennsylvania blend into one, and opt for a new facility designed by Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects. Merging Morgantown Fire Company and Elverson Fire Company into one Fire Department seemed the natural thing to do … the fire companies were only separated by two and a half miles, and over the years coordinated varying services between them over six municipalities. Elverson operated as an engine company with two pumpers and a tanker, while Morgantown took on the specialized jobs of truck and heavy rescue. So when volunteer firemen from each organization started talking of consolidating back in 2005, enthusiasm soon sprang up within both fire companies and from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Building Committee Chairman Tom Hornberger said that after looking at several architectural firms in the area, Bernardon Haber Holloway (BHH) was selected due to their impressive body of work. BHH has provided design services to a dozen fire safety and emergency services companies in the tri-state area. “We looked at Po-Mar-Lin Fire Station in Unionville,” he said, “and we like them [BHH] because of their experience—they’ve done more fire houses than anyone else.”

BHH is designing the new, 24,500 SF facility to blend the functions of the older fire companies. The fire-fighting apparatus from both companies will be housed in the new building with sufficient bays to allow each vehicle to face a door. In addition to the vehicles, Twin Valley will have a gear locker room, meeting room, training room, radio room and a lounge with a kitchenette. It will also sport a gym, office space, bunk rooms and a separate section designated for the emergency medical services group. In addition, a museum is planned to house memorabilia from both Morgantown and Elverson, including a restored 1930s Ford fire truck.

Art Bernardon of BHH was impressed with the determination of both fire companies to come together with as few hitches as possible.

“Twin Valley is a model merger,” said Bernardon. “They came together of their own accord, and have done a fine job of integrating their memberships into a singular group. They have demonstrated that they have really thought out their needs for the new building, and they are also thinking ahead. These folks are speaking with a singular voice.”

“If everything goes according to plan,” said Hornberger, “the new station will be completed in September of 2008, and we’re very excited about it. With combined manpower and resources, our response time will be faster,” he said, “which will be better for the community.”

Our Architects: Designing, Preserving and Building Chester County . . .

March 2007 - Their historic restoration, renovation/adaptive re-use projects include the Chester County Historic Courthouse, Hagley Machine Shop Adaptive Re-Use, and the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. Their retail clients include BJ’s Wholesale Club, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Linens 'n Things. Their shopping and lifestyle centers include Brandywine Square Shopping Center, Eaglepointe Shopping Center, and The Shops on Eagleview Boulevard. They are Bernardon Haber Holloway (BHH) whose offices in Kennett Square, Downingtown, and Wilmington stand ready to provide outstanding architectural and interior design services in a variety of areas. The list above though impressive is far from exhaustive.

Neil B. Liebman, AIA, Managing Principal of the Downingtown office at 55 Country Club Drive, speaks of the firm’s work this way: “We get to enjoy our architecture. We make it. We use it,” adding, “we designed this very building. We delight in its beauty, its form, and function.” Their work in the retail sector has transformed the landscape and façade of shopping centers, as has their work with golf clubs, most recently their work at St. Davids Golf Club, Aronimink Golf Club, and French Creek Golf Club.

The French Creek clubhouse is designed to appear as an established stone manor house with various constructed additions that complement an existing stone barn structure that dates back to the 1800’s. The interior design, which features a grand ballroom adjacent to the formal entry, was provided by the firm’s interiors studio, BHH Tait Interiors LLC. There is elaborate wainscoting, large baseboard profiles and casings, coffered ceilings, segmented arched openings, and multiple layered cornice moldings. It is, in short, breathtaking.

Liebman says, “Our goal is to understand who the client is, determine their wants, and how to earn them the best return on their investment. We study their needs and listen to their ideas.” BHH has offered retail design services since 1987 focusing on design flexibility for the ever-changing retail scene. “We’re all about making the most of the space we have.” The firm prides itself on its keen eye for placement, store entrances, parking, and curb appeal.

Kerry R. Haber, AIA, a Principal at BHH’s Kennett Square office, is a native of the area committed to its preservation and development. “It’s rewarding to see buildings that you played an important role in designing. But,” he says, “before we get into actual designs, we meet people and listen carefully to them. We’re good listeners at BHH. We know our clients have dreams and visions and it’s our job to help make them a reality.”

What is most satisfying to Haber is client satisfaction. “The most rewarding thing to me is when at the completion of a project a client is happy and says ‘this is more than I expected.’ That’s what we’re all about – exceeding expectations.”

Although the bulk of their work is commercial, there is a diversified project mix of senior living, local and state government, and health and wellness. At the helm of their Wilmington office is William E. Holloway, AIA. As Principal-in-Charge, his background and expertise is in the design of commercial, healthcare, and historic restoration, renovation/adaptive re-use.

The guiding light behind it all is Arthur A. Bernardon, AIA, founding Principal of the firm. Since 1973, he has accumulated an extensive background in the design of a wide range of project types and is the embodiment of the firm’s motto: Forging Client Goals into Valuable Assets.

(published in Chester County Life Magazine, March/April 2007)

Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects collects food for needy families at company’s “Winter Social”

February 2007 - Buying raffle tickets for prizes doesn’t always have to involve writing a check; Bernardon Haber Holloway raffled prizes for pantry items to benefit Misión Santa María Madre de Dios in Avondale, PA.

Cases of water, mac ‘n cheese, jars of baby food and other pantry items were taken in payment for raffle tickets at a Winter Social for employees.

The firm likes to come up with unusual ways to give back to the community, and its 60 employees enthusiastically participate, whether it’s a walk for cancer, collecting winter coats for needy children or donating time to build dog houses for charity.

“We really had fun with this,” noted Neil Liebman, a Principal of the firm, who helped organize the event. A total of nine prizes were “raffled” off, including a weekend in Annapolis, Maryland, $250 gift certificate to the King of Prussia Mall, and $100 gift certificate to the Dilworthtown Inn, in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

“We gave out over 2,000 tickets,” said Neil Liebman. “We had a 5-items-for-3-tickets day, and a one-for-one day…people were very responsive.”

The pantry items were delivered to Misión Santa María Madre de Dios in Avondale, PA , which serves the spiritual, social and religious educational needs of the Spanish speaking community of Southern Chester County. In addition to offering transportation, translation services, and immigration services, Misión Santa María provides food, clothing and furniture distribution efforts on behalf of the numerous people who visit there daily.

Bernardon Haber Holloway help Giordano’s Pizza, Bar & Grill in Kennett Square with its second expansion, building up instead of out—and in record time.

January 2007 - Giordano’s Pizza, Bar & Grill in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has a distinctive look…it’s bright red, features red mullions and large expanses of glass, and its angular geometry makes it easy to spot. But inside is the real attraction. In addition to its already unusual organization around a central masonry and glass monitor (which makes eating there a visually unique experience), the restaurant sports a raised bar with a perimeter drinking rail on the main level and now an open mezzanine dining area above the bar—a very cool twist, unlike any structure in the region.

Giordano’s was originally designed in 1993 by Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects (BHH), with a footprint of 6,500 square feet. The dining facilities occupy an area to the west of the glass monitor, a bar beneath the monitor, and the kitchen and take-out to the east. In 1996 the restaurant expanded with a 3,900 square foot Sports Bar addition on its north side (also designed by BHH) which was soon filled with customers. Where to go next? Since there was no more room on the property to expand the building’s footprint, the only place left to go was up.

“We didn’t think of it early on during the original design of the restaurant,” said BHH Project Architect Joe Pavoni. While designing the Sports Bar addition in 1996, however, the firm came up with the idea of upward expansion but “put it away for a while” until the owners were ready.

“The restaurant was received with such enthusiasm when it opened in 1993; we just knew that the new Sports Bar was also going to be a success. And when the time came for additional expansion opportunities, we wanted to be prepared and upward just made sense,” added Pavoni.

Since BHH designed the original building and improvements, moving up was relatively painless for the owners. The hardest part was figuring out how to do it without disrupting the business.

“Engineering-wise, it was no problem,” noted Pavoni. BHH is known for its creativity, and moving within the original structure was already planned—which is one reason why the project only took a few weeks to complete. “Technically we could make it work—the design related to what was already there,” he said. So the firm worked with both the owners and builder, D. Fickler Construction, LLC, to keep the restaurant open throughout the construction phase. Both the designers and contractors were flexible enough to work during off hours, and even get cleaned up and out of the area daily in time for opening—a big plus for a busy restaurant, where downtime is quite costly.

Owner John Giordano is quite pleased with the new space. “It adds 45 seats and an additional 700 square feet,” he said, “and both the contractor and BHH were very accommodating. They basically came in from 10 PM and worked through 6 AM, and were cleaned up and out of there before we opened each day.”

Giordano’s “eater-tainment” spot increases the family restaurant’s capacity to 370 seats, which John said helps them seat families quicker. It was utilized the day after construction was completed, and because it is tucked away upstairs, it is a very popular space for private parties. Due to the design, which fits the original décor so nicely, many of the restaurant’s customers don’t even know that a major change was made. “BHH did a wonderful job,” he said.

“People have told me how amazed they are at how it blends right in with the existing facility,” added Joe Pavoni. “We’re proud of that.”