This Pennsylvania transit station was originally opened to passenger service as part of the Market Street Subway in 1908. The station was superficially updated in 1974 in preparing for the Bicentennial celebrations. Since then, plans have been underway for some time for a major enhancement of the station. With the guidance, expertise, and vision of Burns Engineering, Converse Winkler Architects and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the SEPTA 5th Street/Independence Hall will be reopening soon.
The design goal was an open, well-lit, and consumer friendly station. A.P. Construction, founded in 1954, was selected to build the station and has been serving the Delaware Valley area for over 65 years. One of the products picked to fulfill the "well-lit" goal, was light penetrating sidewalk panels creating an open, safe, and bright atmosphere in the subway below. GBA Architectural Products + Services won the bid and proceeded to develop the glass and concrete sidewalk skylights into precast units. The idea was to build them off site and swing them into place with a crane.
GBA not only supplied, but also installed the 12 precast concrete panels. Each panel weighed as much as seven tons. They had to be set on cast-in-place concrete bulkheads, attaining the needed elevation and pitch to seamlessly mesh into the surrounding cityscape. Pitch of the panels was critical to prevent ponding on the city sidewalks. Great attention had to be paid to how the panels were integrated into an area so significant to the birth of our country. Millions of visitors flood the area every year to see the Independence National Historic Park surrounding the station.
"We now have a modern hub for travel, to and from Americas' birthplace." Now SEPTA can point to the magnificent 5th Street Independence Hall Station sitting within America's most historic square mile.
"Work was done very professionally with outstanding quality. Your crews were very attentive to detail & made sure to protect surrounding work surfaces from damage. They communicated well with my field team to ensure we & the Owner were satisfied with the end product. Job well done." - Russell Stafford, RNGD A Palmisano Company
"We were lucky to have GBA on our project at Lutheran East High School. From the front office to the field supervision and crew were very knowledgeable with our project. Took extra care not to damage the building during demolition. The quality of materials and their labor force was top-notch." — Peter Powell, Carey Construction Group
"We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the glass block at Lutheran East High School and have received many compliments on the design. The glass block windows give the building a nice “pop” of color on the exterior each side of the gym and helped to maintain the identity of the school." - Rick Jozity, Meraki Architects, L.L.C
"I saw the final glass block wall in person and it really is a work of art. We are so grateful for your team’s hard work on this." – Crister Cantrell, Gensler
"As the Senior Project Manager for the general contracting company responsible for completing all aspects of the historical restoration, structural rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse modifications to the derelict Triboro tuberculosis hospital, one of the most difficult challenges was finding capable and qualified subcontractors for the key restoration trades that are both committed to quality construction and respectful of the historical restoration process. I am lucky enough to have worked with GBA on previous successful projects and was glad to bring them into this project. GBA provided the essential expertise and quality craftsmanship that this project needed and was a reliable partner helping us convert the Triboro Tuberculosis Hospital into the T Building Residence." – Senior Project Manager, Bill Harwood for the GC, Mega Contracting
"On behalf of me, my project manager and CGC; I would like to reach out to applaud the quality and workmanship of the crew sent out to do the glass block wall outside of the theater here in Hudson. Dan and Nate went above and beyond to keep their work area organized and clean, even protected our finish trim and VWC in the mixing area with plastic. If only more companies active on site would follow in your companies steps these buildings would be cut and dry and run very efficiently. Thank you! - Jake M. Behler, Cameron General Contractors
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