Spotlight on: Exeter Property Group

Posted by: George T. Wilson, AIA LEED-AP
Principal, Meyer Architects, Inc.

Well-known for its seasoned and successful real estate team, Exeter Property Group has invested in, rehabilitated and managed over $7 billion in properties since its inception, a few years ago.

Recently, Meyer Architects, Inc. provided core & shell architecture services and collaborated with Exeter on revitalizing two 1960s office buildings, which led to two of the largest lease transactions in Philadelphia for the past year: NAVTEQ and DaVita, Inc.

These two buildings at Great Valley Commerce Center in Malvern, PA - 2476 Swedesford Road (single-story 276,000 SF) and 1000 North Cedar Hollow Road (2-story 80,000 SF) – have been transformed into modern, sophisticated, “Class A” design.

2476 Swedesford - the new site of DaVita, Inc.’s headquarters - features a new front façade and lobby, magnificent interior courtyard with sweeping skylights, new cafeteria with stainless steel finishes and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

1000 North Cedar Hollow Road – NAVTEQ’s new headquarters - consists of a new main lobby and entrance canopies, new windows and a retrofit of the stairwell to support a new elevator addition. Meyer Design, Inc. also just completed a 20,000 SF addition to this building to accommodate NAVTEQ’s expanding business operations.

One SDI Drive, located in Plymouth Meeting, PA, is a new one-story, 143,000 SF building constructed on a revitalized brownfield site, targeting for LEED-CS Silver certification. Exeter Property Group and Meyer Architects, Inc. focused on material conservation through a variety of strategies such as selecting materials with high recycled content, materials that are extracted, harvested and manufactured locally and FSC certified products to construct the Core and Shell building. During construction of the Core and Shell building, nearly 95% of the waste was diverted from landfills.  SDI signed a lease in 2010 to fill the majority of the building.

Meyer engages with local students in Design/Build Competition

Posted by: Tim Wanaselja, RA, Project Architect

I recently represented Meyer Design, Inc. in a design/build competition for Carpenters and Architects Training Together (CATT). Students from CHAD & Mercy Vocational High Schools were partnered with a professional architect and general contractor to design and build a “partition." Meyer Design, Inc. was paired with Gilbane Building Company and we guided the design of a computer desk with adjustable shelving and a study area for Mercy Vocational High School in North Philadelphia. We mentored seven students from Mercy throughout the month & a half long design process, which culminated in the building of the “partition” on Friday May 6th, 2011. The seven Mercy students along with the six Carpenters Apprentices were given seven hours to construct the design using only raw materials from a list prepared for the competition and $200.00 of money for any additional materials needed. It was a great event and all four of the groups competing were pleased with their finished products. Check out the video to see a video recap of the day!

Designing for the Community

Posted by: Todd Sell, Project Designer

Meyer Design is excited to step outside of corporate design every so often to work on creative architecture projects that affect the community in a broader, more compassionate way.    

The Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia is a not-for-profit organization providing support groups and educational services to inspire hope and enhance the lives of cancer patients and their families. Located in three historic buildings in Fairmount Park, they engaged Meyer Design to upgrade a few buildings on their campus so they could continue to expand services and functions for their members.

This unique project required overall updating, planning and finishes for the Sheep Barn.  The conference room of the Mansion was renovated and a storage room was transformed into a lab. The Ridgeland Barn gained an addition for meetings and events as well as a renovated demonstration kitchen to teach patients how to prepare the proper food for themselves.

Changes to the Cancer Support Community’s historic campus faced multiple approvals from the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, the Philadelphia Historic Commission and the Philadelphia Art Commission in addition to the standard approvals through the City of Philadelphia. 

Construction will be complete at the end of May, 2011.