When it comes to looking for an architecture firm that can handle your medical or institutional building project, Watkins Architect is the number one choice. We have extensive experience in the medical line and have worked extensively with The Reading Hospital for many of their renovations and upgrades. Our firm works on projects in Berks County, all counties in Pennsylvania, and throughout the United States.
Ranging from eye centers and medical buildings to orthodontists, our team has the expertise needed for your project. Whether it be a renovation, brand new building, or updating the look with our interior design service, we can assist you. We have helped many companies in and around Reading PA with their space planning, office layout, interior design, and master planning.
If you're searching for a institutional or medical architect, let us help. Contact us today to start the conversation. Explore more information and photos of our projects below.
Mary’s Shelter
We provided design services to renovate the former US Navel/ Marine Reserve Center to new fully updated Woman’s Center/ Shelter. The projectd a computer room along with administrative spaces. The project was a 17,500 SF first floor only renovation.
Caring for women in need, Mary’s Shelter gives mothers and their children, a vision of hope for the future and provides residential and non-residential services for pregnant women and women with newborns who are in need of a supportive environment because of a lack of suitable housing or favorable family relationships.
Mary’s Shelter’s goal is to provide temporary housing, while assisting the young women to coordinate counseling, education and quality prenatal care. The ultimate outcome is having a healthy infant born to a healthy, well-informed mother. The resident and counselor develop a plan of action with attainable goals, focusing specifically on achieving independent living skills.
Phoebe Ministries: Trexler Wing Renovation
Located in Allentown PA, we provided architectural services for the 57,000 SF renovation of this three-story nursing home wing. The renovations included an addition for extra patient suite space and upgrades to the balconies and main entryway. Specific renovations included reconfiguration of core spaces; removal of walls to create open concept living/dinging space; new finishes throughout to provides a less institutional look and a more residential feeling; façade renovations; lighting, plumbing and HVAC upgrades; and ‘country kitchens’ on each floor. This project was constructed in multiple phases in order to reduce the number of beds that were offline at any given time. This renovation also included some updating to outdoor spaces.
Progressive Vision Institute
Located in Allentown PA, we took care of the planning and designing for the new four-story, 21,300 SF eye care and surgical center building. The lower level (basement) includes an optical center with lab, lens cutting, pediatrics exam and two tenant spaces for future medical uses. The first floor is the eye care center with 10 exam rooms, testing rooms and minor OR. The second floor is the surgical center with two Class C operating rooms, pre/post op, two laser procedure rooms and auxiliary spaces. The third floor is administrative offices for the practice. Services included Department of Health approvals.
Haven House Behavioral Health Services
Located in Allentown PA, Watkins Architect handled the planning, designing and construction observation for the renovation of an existing building, built in 1947 and located in downtown Allentown, for the relocation of Haven House’s Outpatient and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Clinic. The project scope included a total gut and renovation of 75% of the building and minor cosmetic upgrades to the other 25% of the facility. New spaces created include waiting, reception, offices, files/copy room, classrooms, computer lab, arts & crafts room, cafeteria, commercial kitchen, conference room, restrooms, support spaces and a location for a future thrift shop.
As part of the renovation, all plumbing, and electrical systems were upgraded and the existing HVAC system was modified to meet the needs of Haven House. The project was made possible in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.
Parking Lot Renovations – Design to transform a standard city parking lot into a green space parking lot for a mental/behavioral health facility. The green space design is intended to assist the staff as a clinical therapy tool and includes a colored concrete walking path, architectural fence, outdoor patio, open pavilion, storage shed, garden area and new landscaping.
Berkleigh Eye Care
Located in Kutztown PA, Watkins provided the interior design retrofit by coordinating the optometric equipment plans with the desired building plans and codes.
Dr. Ghosh Orthodontic
Located in Allentown PA, we handled the designing of a new two-story, 6,600 SF orthodontic office building. Spaces include a two-story clerestory waiting room, seven-chair patient area, play area, lab rooms, pan/ceph machine room, consultation rooms, offices and a conference room.
David M. Causa, DDS
Watkins Architect provided a complete renovation of the existing building to create a new 2,800 sf dental practice facility in Sinking Spring PA. The state of the art facility, includes 3 procedure rooms, 2 hygiene rooms, Lab / sterilization, breakroom, waiting room and complete facelift to the entire exterior.
Tower Health – Various Projects
Located in Reading PA, we handled a variety of jobs for the Reading Hospital.
- C-R Building “Link” Project
- E Building Floors 2 & 3
- Drug & Alcohol Center
- D-1 Lobby Finishes
- Children’s Health Clinic
- D.O.B. Blood Lab
- The Reading Health Dispensary
Tower Health – Recent Projects
DOB –Center for Public Health – 5,280 SF interior renovation
DOB –Internal Medicine – 2,430 SF interior renovation
DOB –Center for Infectious Disease – 7, 649 SF interior renovation
DOB –Health Information Management – 18,240 SF interior renovations
Sacred Heart Villa: From Convent to Assisted Care Facility
Over the past 8 years, Watkins Architect has provided planning, design and construction observation for phased renovation of St. Michael’s Convent building in Reading, PA. The completed renovation has created a new 99 unit assisted care facility called Sacred Heart Villa. The renovation included a complete interior gut and remodel of approximately 53,000 SF, including a complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing replacement, all new windows and exterior wall insulating for energy code compliance, and a complete ADA upgrade including a new main entrance lounge porch and ADA ramp. Additional work included renovation of the main facility dining room & kitchen, fellowship hall & code upgrades including new sprinkler system for the entire facility. The exterior facade was restored with new matching windows and the new ADA ramp was blended to the building with a new covered front lounging porch.
Leesport Imaging Center, TRHMC
Phased interior fit-out of a former Redner’s Market grocery store in Leesport, PA to accommodate a new imaging center and blood lab. Project consisted of new patient and staff areas for MRI, CT, digital radiology, digital mammography, ultrasound and phlebotomy services.
American Red Cross Office & Training Facility
Full Services for various Capital Campaign Renovation Projects including re-roofing, facade renovations, and code renovations. The office/training room building is a two-story 3,400 SF separate facility to house all the Health Services functions.
NEPA Medical Center
Renovations to an existing 5,000 SF building in downtown Allentown. The building was gutted and Watkins Architect LTD designed a new floor plan to meet the needs of the owner. Interior spaces include check-in, reception/waiting, conference room, exam, procedure and recovery rooms, labs, offices, staff lounge and support spaces. The front facade was also renovated.
St. Lawrence Medical Center
Located in Reading PA, we provided design and documentation services for addition and renovation, as well as land development approval and zoning approval for addition to existing practice.
Shuman & Schwab Dental
Located in Blandon, PA we provided architectural assistance for their new building. With a growing clientele, we created a state of the art facility, which remained in the area of the original practice. It includes 5 operatories, 4 hygiene rooms, employee breakroom, 2 offices, an 18 seat waiting room with a cathedral ceiling entryway and 24 space parking lot.
Easy Does It, Inc. Recovery Community Center
Easy Does It, Inc., located in Leesport PA, is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families recovering from the effects of addiction. The 22,000 SF addition includes two stories and a basement, and added the following spaces to the existing facility: bedrooms, offices, lounges, computer labs, classrooms, bath and shower rooms and community rooms.
Other Healthcare Design Projects
- Angstadt Dental — Wyomissing, Berks County, PA
- Community General Hospital — Reading, PA
- Cumru Township Family Medical Center
- Grand View Manor — Fleetwood, Berks County, PA
- Kadan Orthodontics
- Respiratory Specialists & Sleep Health Center — Wyomissing, PA
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, A-3/B- 3 Medical Records
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D.O.B. Suite 225 ENT
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, B-3 Express Admissions
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, C-2 Billing Office
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, Berkshire Professional Building
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D.O.B. Suite 125 Digital Mammography
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D-1/E- 1 Respiratory Care Department
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, A3 Internal Medicine & Family Medicine
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D/E-1 Respiratory Care
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, Nursing School Interior Renovations
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D.O.B. Women's Clinic
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, Occupational, Physical, Speech & Hearing Clinic
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, D.O.B. Ages OBGYN
- The Reading Hospital & Medical Center, E Building Sleep Lab