Local architect named for $300M The Waterfront in Allentown

Developers of the $300 million mixed-use project along the Lehigh River in Allentown unveiled some new details of their plans at a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday. Included is the use of a Lehigh Valley architect.

The Waterfront project includes six Class-A office buildings, three apartment complexes, three parking garages, a half-mile walking path with direct river access and outdoor plazas and amphitheaters on 26 acres.

At full build-out, the 1.2 million-square-foot project will offer nearly 3,000 jobs and 400 apartments on the site of the former Lehigh Structural Steel Co. property.

While 615 Waterfront Drive, an eight-story structure designed by Cope Linder Architects of Philadelphia, is the first commercial building expected to rise on the site, a local architect created the design for the next one, 645 Waterfront Drive.

Developers named MKSD Architects of South Whitehall Township as the architectural firm for that building, which will be six stories, five of which will be commercial offices, with first-floor retail/restaurant space. The building will cover 131,457 square feet.

Also, developers showed a video created by Whiting-Turner Co., which unveiled the finished conceptual designs of the entire Waterfront project.

Whiting-Turner, which has a regional office in South Whitehall Township, is the lead construction firm for 615 Waterfront Drive.

Several partners came together to create The Waterfront, which was in the planning stages for years.

The Waterfront Development Co. is a partnership comprised of Jaindl Properties, Dunn Twiggar Co. and Michael Dunn Co.

Barry Isett & Associates Inc. of Upper Macungie Township is the lead civil engineer.

Officials spoke about the opportunities the riverfront project could bring, from scenic views to newly opened nearby arteries of transportation, thanks to the nearly complete American Parkway Bridge and the construction of Riverside Drive, a road that would link Whitehall to Allentown.

“Sometimes we need to stop and remember, good things come to those who wait,” said Andrew Twiggar, principal, owner and co-founder of Dunn Twiggar Co. “We’ve had big ideas about The Waterfront for many years. Our idea is to create a sustainable development here.”

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski spoke about the importance of people again having access to this part of the Lehigh River.

“I think this is going to be a tremendous asset that will drive life back to the city,” Pawlowski said.

To make way for the new development, construction workers will demolish the last building on the site in the first quarter of 2016, said Mark Jaindl, president/CEO of Jaindl Properties of Allentown.

More demolition will occur in the next 45 days, Jaindl said.

The first step of the development includes installation of infrastructure, such as streets, curbs and underground utilities.

Source: LVB