One Bala Redevelopment

One Bala Plaza is a 345,000 sf. cast in place concrete building developed in 1965.  By the time Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) decided to renew and extend their lease, the 50+ year old office building was showing its age.  Single pane windows created drafty conditions during the winter and stuffy conditions in the summer.  The original Air Handling Units (AHUs) needed an overhaul and modernization to compete with modern office buildings.  The building and grounds were a sea of asphalt and concrete despite it sitting on 65 acres in a suburban setting.

Improvements included new double-glazed ribbon windows, the addition of prefabricated EIFS panels on the building’s exterior and 3 new AHUs to go along with the modernization of 6 existing AHUs.  A new 4 story atrium with an interconnecting staircase was added to the center of the building for PHLY.  The site was transformed with the creation of 3 new rain gardens to green up previously asphalted areas.  A new walking path was added to tie in with Lower Merion’s Cynwyd Heritage Trail.  Massive concrete planters were taken down to make way for handicap ramps and graceful planting beds.  Close to 200 trees and thousands of perennials were planted to green up the site.

The redevelopment of One Bala Plaza was an ambitious and challenging project given that the building was fully occupied.  Tenants outside of PHLY range from radio stations, a call center, and medical offices.  It was imperative to minimize any disruption during this complex undertaking.