Franklin Street Project Update – Revised 5/7/2012

Franklin Street Station Project

The Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA) acquired the Franklin Street Station on December 14, 2005, with the intent to reopen the station to again serve the public as a transportation hub for bus services as it has in the past. The station will also include a small museum.

As it was February, 1930                                                                             As it is now February, 2011

The Franklin Street Station is on record as a historical site but is not registered as a historical property. The current building was dedicated on January 25, 1930 and was designed in the renaissance revival architectural style and symmetrical in design. The building is one story 140 ft long by 47 ft wide. The large central portion was the passenger waiting area and is 77 ft long by 42 ft wide with a 26 ft high ceiling with a marble terrazzo floor and terracotta wainscot. The building is to be rehabilitated to return it to its former glory and usefulness. Artist renderings of the new exterior and interior views show the public what this grand building will look like when completed in the fall of 2012. A brief schedule of activities outlines work to be done during the next year.

As it will be in the future

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May 7, 2012

The roof is finished and the interior is dry. Work is starting on the ceiling finishes and the interior scaffolding will soon be removed. The exterior cleaning is complete and workers are repointing the masonry joints and repairing the exterior terracotta. Carpenters are restoring the large arch windows and the interior metal work restoration has begun. Demolition of the site concrete parking areas has started in preparation to connect some utilities.

March 21, 2012

Removal of the old roof to prep for the new roof has begun this week. Care is being taken to keep as much of the roof as possible covered to minimize the chances of water seeping into the building during this process. Once the new roof is installed, interior work on the ceiling will be completed and the interior scaffolding can be removed. Interior cleaning and restoration on the door and window frames continues. The warm weather has allowed the start of the exterior cleaning and large portions are looking like new.

Work is moving forward roughing in the electrical, water, sprinkler and HVAC systems. Utilities connections are being coordinated and site work demolition should begin in the next few weeks.

March 2, 2012

The new masonry walls in the basement areas are complete and the electrical contractor has installed panel boards and conduit. Scaffolding has been erected to work on the ceiling (Pic 1 & Pic 2) and the steel beams have been cleaned and repainted. The ceiling framework has been started. The interior walls are being cleaned of dirt (Pic 3) and graffiti and portions of the exterior walls have been test cleaned (Pic 4 & Pic 5) in preparation for warmer weather which will allow exterior cleaning to commence. Work on the new roofing will begin as weather conditions allow.

February 1, 2012

Construction for the project is going well. New walls in basement areas are almost complete and the electricians continue to run new conduit for power, communications, CCTV and fire alarm systems. The restoration workers are busy on the windows in the old luncheonette, baggage and passenger waiting areas. Framers are erecting new walls in the baggage area, men’s and women’s restrooms. Cleaning work is beginning on the ceiling area to prep for new lights and a new ceiling.

January 17, 2012

Selective demolition to the interior is complete and work has begun inside with the cleaning of the interior walls, window frames and door frames. New masonry walls are being built in the basement areas and workers are running conduit for new electrical service. Temporary power and heat are allowing contractors to continue working during the cold winter months.

December 13, 2011

         The hazardous material abatement is complete and removal of material to be saved has begun.  With the onset of colder weather, work will be ongoing inside the building with the removal of bench frames to be refurbished and reused, removal of damaged and deteriorated plaster, removal of old plumbing and wiring and other selective demolition.

November 22, 2011

Work has begun with the removal of hazardous materials from the project site and the selective removal of doors and windows for restoration. Also, the replacement of the existing roof has begun. After the building is free of hazardous material, the cleaning and restoration of the interior and utility connections will begin.