- Type Master Plan, Visioning
- Services Architecture
- Awards AIA Eastern PA

The Challenge
Unlike suburban campuses, which often stand as islands awash in concrete and grass, the campus of Reading Area Community College is defined by two unique edges. Views of the campus can be seen from the Penn Street Viaduct and the southeastern corner of the bridge’s connection. Reading is no stranger to flooding, and the area that makes up RACC’s campus has been hit several times by historic floodwaters. As recently as 2006, the school bore the brunt of heavy flooding at a high cost.

Our Approach
Pre-dating Reading Community College by more than 100 years, the Penn Street Viaduct is a landmark to the community and an important gateway to the city. The bridge plays an important role as a campus element – a physical structure that is exclusive to the college and creates a sense of placemaking among the internal and external community. The master plan considers repositioning buildings toward the eastern edge of campus in order to minimize future flooding as much as possible. This brings the campus closer to the urban edge and positions RACC as a proactive community partner. Further, it expands the campus’s natural edge and extends the beautification along the riverbank.

Design Solution
Alloy5 created a conceptual site plan based on the goals of RACC’s strategic plan. Academic and administrative buildings sit perpendicular to the Penn Street Viaduct on the urban edge of campus. Two buildings parallel the bridge and form several quads which stretch to the campus’s nature edge. The southernmost quad is an activity quad, designed as a dynamic space for campus life. Next is the academic quad, which features a classically collegiate walkway. To the northern end of the bridge is the arts quad bookended by the Miller Center for the Arts and the Schmidt Training and Technology Center.


alloy_5
Oct 28
Booth-building and beyond! 🏗️ Watch the gang set up shop at the 2024 PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference. From designing our awesome booth to recording the pilot of our new podcast, “Communication by Design,” live at the event - it was a whirlwind of creativity and connection. Our first time exhibiting, but definitely not our last! 🎙️🏫
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#5gang #PSBA2024 #SchoolLeadership #BoothDesign #PodcastLaunch #Architects #Designers #LVMadePossible #EducationInnovation #FirstTimers #BehindTheScenes ...
alloy_5
May 24
Schropp til you drop // Welcome to the Schropp Shoppe, a modern shopping experience designed to celebrate the original use of a historic building. Back in the 19th century, Moravians purchased their dry goods at the Schropp family`s store. Today`s visitors can buy many of the same items, like candles, housewares and kitchen accessories, at the same location •
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• #5gang #history #historicrenovation #smallbusiness #mainstreet #visioning #interiordesign #architecture #shopsmall #worldheritage #unescoworldheritage #lehighvalleypa #bethlehempa #igbethlehem #visitbethlehem ...
alloy_5
Feb 9
"You`re building our school??" // The gang got to participate in @basdfountainhill 2nd annual Career Day for third, fourth and fifth grade students. We talked architecture, checked out some models and answered lots of questions about their new school (opening summer 27 when these students will be in eighth grade). Thanks for having us, Tigers 💚🐅🏫 •
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• #5gang #careerday #architects #designers #elementaryschool #lvmadepossible #lehighvalley #fountainhill #basdproud #itsathrilltolearnonthehill @bethlehemareasd ...
alloy_5
Dec 21
It`s the season of giving and we`re celebrating with a Barbie basket giveaway. Why Barbie? This year, we added four members to the gang, and they`re all women. Swipe to see the talented architects and designers who bring a better balance to our office. In addition to the giveaway, we`re donating the value of the basket to JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Want to win the basket? Like this post, make sure you`re following @alloy_5 and tag someone who balances you in the comments below. Winner will be randomly selected and must pick up locally. Happy Holidays from the 5gang 💚 •
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• #5gang #barbie #giveaway #boggbag #architects #designers #archilife #officelife #happyholidays #lvmadepossible #bethlehempa #christmascityusa ...
alloy_5
Dec 1
It’s Christmas time in the city 🎄We’ve got two trees at the office and a very special guest joining us for @bethlehemchamber @visithistoricbethlehem Live Advent Calendar at @historicbethlehem Goundie House 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Hope to see you there 💚
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#5gang #christmastree #designers #architects #officelife #lvmadepossible #christmascityusa #lanadelreydoeschristmasmusic #thisistaylorswiftmyfriend ...