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4/4 Architecture Honored with 2023 Award of Excellence from AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter

Local residence recognized for its design excellence and contribution to Hellertown’s ongoing revitalization

4/4 recognized with Award of Excellence for Hellertown Loft project
Hellertown Loft kitchen

The Story

4/4 Architecture was recognized with an Award of Excellence for the renovations of Hellertown Lofts at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Eastern Pennsylvania Design Awards on Thursday, December 7 at the Allentown Art Museum.

The Project

Hellertown Lofts is an adaptive reuse of a 120-year-old former auto dealership on Main Street in Hellertown, PA. The project transforms this two-story mixed-use building by creating a residence from an unused warehouse area, thus making a distinctive space that reflects the personality of its owners.

Jurors for the award competition acknowledged the Hellertown Lofts as a significant contributor to Hellertown’s ongoing revitalization. The adaptive reuse creates a unique residential space, allowing its owners to access and contribute to Hellertown’s walkable and growing downtown. “[The project] encourages possibility and optimism within the surrounding community,” the jury comments read.

“Good architectural design happens when we work as a team,” Gary Lader, Principal of 4/4 Architecture, said. “This project showcases how shared exploration and creative freedom between architect and owner can yield exceptional results.”

The Award

The ceremony featured 11 submissions from six Eastern Pennsylvania firms. 4/4 Architecture’s Hellertown Lofts project earned an Award of Excellence, the AIA EPA’s highest honor, in the Residential Architecture category.

The AIA’s Eastern PA Chapter engages leading architects and partners to review and evaluate the annual design submissions. This year’s jurors included Larry Eighmy, Managing Principal for The Stone House Group, Bea Spolidoro, Principal of Fisher ARCHitecture, and Randy Rhoads, Executive Director of Affordable Housing for Cushing Terrell.

The Team

Additional key project team members for the Hellertown Loft project include General Contractor David Yost, and Financial Consultant Howard Lieberman of Business and Community Financing Solutions.

Read more about the Hellertown Lofts project here.

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4/4 Architecture Earns Industry Partner Award through AIA Eastern Pennsylvania

Key partnership between 4/4 Architecture and Alliance for Building Communities results in renovations that significantly impact the lives of tenants.

4/4 Architecture and ABC earns an Industry Partner Award for our design of Mountain View Apartments
Kitchen - After ADA Renovations with Jon

Award for Mountain View

4/4 Architecture is proud to announce that our firm, along with Alliance for Building Communities (ABC), jointly received an Industry Partner Award for the renovations of Mountain View Apartments at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Eastern Pennsylvania Design Awards.

After reviewing entries from several local firms, the 2022 jury presented 4/4 Architecture’s design for ABC’s Mountain View Apartments with the Industry Partner Award. This award recognizes contributions to the built environment through an important partnership of architect and owner. The jury included Frank Grauman, FAIA LEED AP, a Principal at Bohlin Cywinsky Jackson, and Larry Eighmy, Managing Principal and Founder of The Stone House Group.

Mountain View Project & Team

ABC is a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing for low-income families and senior citizens in Northeastern Pennsylvania. After securing a Community Development Block Grant to improve their tenant spaces, ABC approached 4/4 Architecture about designing ADA renovations to two units within the Mountain View building. Those units belonged to tenants, each of whom struggled to navigate their living spaces due to a physical disability.

The goal of this project was to maximize residents’ safety and mobility, while ensuring they could independently and successfully function within their living space.

The jury felt the project was successful in meeting its goal. “The architect took the trouble to develop a deeply personalized understanding of … tenants’ individual needs. By carefully and economically tweaking their apartments, the project clearly makes a huge difference in their lives,” the jury comments read.

The jury also acknowledged ABC, the building owner. “[ABC] is recognized for taking the initiative to seek and provide funding for these essential and very personal requirements.”

Mountain View renovations targeted the entryway, kitchen, and bathrooms as high-impact areas for improvement. In the entryway, the team reconfigured the area to create appropriate clearance space for tenants who use mobility aids. The team lowered countertops in the kitchen, cut out space under the sink for accessibility, and added hardware to cabinetry. In the bathrooms, the design replaced a tub with a walk-in shower with adjustable bench, created clear-floor areas in front of fixtures, and added grab bars.

Other team members included Mohawk Contracting and Development, the Construction Manager, and Barry Isett and Associates, MEP Engineer.

Read more about the Mountain View project here.