Fleetwood, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/30/2016 -- Watkins Architect has announced progress in the construction on the new location for Mary's Shelter, an organization providing residential and non-residential transitional services to mothers. Watkins provided the update two weeks into construction on the building—a 35,595 square-foot facility that was formerly the Naval and Marine Reserve Center on Kenhorst Boulevard. The construction work is currently focused on demolishing the facade that is to be replaced with new cement board siding. A new roof, the architectural firm also announced, was installed to begin the exterior renovations.
Watkins initially provided design services for the new location in 2014. The building will replace Mary's Shelter's original facility on South 12th Street in Reading; additionally, the organization has a transitional shelter, also in Reading, as well as a location in Bethlehem.
Upon completion of the renovations, the new home for residents of Mary's Shelter will include bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, restrooms and dining rooms. In addition to the renovated facility, Mary's Shelter plans to add on a children's daycare center.
Beyond the housing services for those in need that will be provided at the facility, Mary's Shelter offers life skills training in areas like meal planning/preparation, home maintenance and infant care to facilitate a mother's transition to greater indepence. Pregnant women, new mothers and mothers completing their GEDs or earning college credits are all served by the organization.
Watkins Architect, located in Fleetwood, PA, was founded in 1995 and has since sought to provide a diverse group of clients—commercial, religious, industrial, residential and government—with a partner-oriented relationship and great architectural service. Their merger in 2012 with Synergetics Architects of Reading, PA combined years of experience and skill sets and the single architectural firm's capacity to offer a wide range of detail-oriented resources and services.
Watkins Architect and its employees maintain professional affiliation and membership in numerous industry professional groups including the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and ICC (International Code Council). They have received architect registrations in more than a dozen states and provinces in the United States and Canada. They have won numerous awards and honors including an Architecture Creative Achievement Award from Penn State University and several awards from the Home Builders Association. The firm has also designed a home featured in Builder/Architect Magazine.
About Watkins Architect
Watkins Architect takes pride in being an industry leader in sustainability initiatives. They offer design, administration and documentation services that ensure projects are a 'green building' in accordance with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards put forward by the United States Green Building Council, of which Watkins is a proud member.
More information can be found at http://www.watkinsarchitect.com/sustainability.asp
The firm has also been granted the designation of Energy Star Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Star Partners like Watkins offer energy efficiency services and products to ensure their clients optimize the energy performance of their buildings and portfolios.
Contact:
Company: Watkins Architect
Address: 29 West Main Street, Fleetwood, PA 19522
Phone: 610-944-5536
Email: yourteam@watkinsarchitect.com
Website: http://www.watkinsarchitect.com/