Orndorf & Associates, Inc.

05/19/2017

Recently featured in Philadelphia's 2017 Center City Developments publication, The Royal Theater is one of many transformative projects happening in the city. JKRP Architects' unique blend of old and new will be a commercial and residential anchor for South Street upon completion. In addition to providing the structural design for the 6-story mixed use building and rear townhomes, O&A designed temporary support bracing in order to preserve the theater's historic front facade. Essentially hugging the wall in place, the braces will give the existing facade some necessary TLC as the surrounding new structure rises.

02/01/2017

Old City is bursting at the seams with single-family developments. Cantilevered homes with wide windows and few interior walls are becoming the norm, making it difficult to incorporate lateral systems without disrupting the interior layout. O&A had to get creative with the Adagio II project by JKRP Architects, where the design called for the intersection of a moment connection, cantilevered beam, horizontal x-bracing and column splice all in one. With construction trends allowing for fewer lateral elements, O&A finds ways to design for stability while staying within the architectural confines.

12/02/2016

A lot of behind-the-scenes work has gone into Drexel's CAT building in recent months. Renovations and infrastructure improvements will bring new wet research laboratories to the department of chemistry and IExE. O&A partnered with Nalls Architecture to install high-grade stainless steel supports for air ducts (pictured here from a recent site visit) and mechanical units throughout the building that will make these changes possible. University City is booming, and upgrades to existing buildings and infrastructure play an integral role in continuing the area’s forward progress.

10/26/2016

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the Plymouth Meeting Mall officially broke ground yesterday to the delight of kids throughout the greater Philadelphia region. O&A worked with Darlow Christ Architects to provide structural engineering services for the new learning and entertainment complex, which will be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

What do you have when you mix tons of kids and 50,000 Lego pieces outside a mall? A groundbreaking for a new attraction designed to generate traffic at a time when the American mall is reinventing itself as a shopping and entertainment venue.

09/30/2016

In honor of AISC’s Steel Day, here is a variety of steel elements working in unison to frame out the new M&M Physical Therapy building in Columbus, NJ. Partnering with McGillin Architecture, O&A utilized long span joists running the width of the building to eliminate the need for interior column bays and allow for a more flexible architectural layout in the underlying space. Cold formed steel trusses cap the front end of the building, which is due for completion along with the remainder of the Homestead Plaza retail center in the coming months.

09/16/2016

Extensive shoring work is being used throughout this addition to a single-family home in Narberth, PA. O&A worked with Sarnacki Architects to breathe new life to this beautiful home that dates back to the early 1900s. Wood girders in place of existing exterior bearing walls will help create an open transition between the old and new interior. Incorporating a modern design into old framework is challenging, and unexpected existing conditions often emerge. Thorough structural detailing and coordination has allowed O&A to properly address on-site issues and keep the project moving forward.

09/01/2016

The addition and renovation to the Camden Academy Charter High School by Garrison Architects is shaping up nicely. Upon completion, the building’s footprint will nearly double in size, offering new classrooms, offices, and a cafeteria as part of a state-of-the-art learning environment for the city’s students. Structural design by O&A yielded a system of steel moment frames, masonry load-bearing and shear walls, and detailed foundation work to tie together the new and existing buildings. We are proud to be involved with Camden’s continued effort to upgrade its growing Charter School Network.

09/01/2016

We teamed up with Ignarri-Lummis Architects to transform this former warehouse-type structure into a McCaffrey's Supermarket in Doylestown, PA. The existing building conditions presented a variety of challenges, including out-of-plumb trusses and deteriorated masonry walls. Stabilization of the structure was accomplished with a new braced diaphragm at the base of the existing roof trusses and shoring and repair work at exterior brick walls. New vestibules and eyebrow windows along the building's high perimeter were intricately designed and detailed to help create a unique shopping experience.

09/01/2016

The Clayton Middle and High School Auditorium is taking shape in southern New Jersey. O&A was pleased to work with Garrison Architects to provide the structural design for the new 19,300 square foot auditorium and classroom addition. The project presented an array of structural challenges, including large unbraced column heights and high differentials in grade elevations along the perimeter of the foundation. Once complete, the building addition will be a valued community asset for years to come.

09/01/2016

The smallest of structures often present the greatest design challenges. Careful consideration to the layout of its timber pile foundations allowed for construction costs of the Fisher Art Studio in Rehoboth Beach, DE to be kept at a minimum. In order to accommodate the pe*******on of natural light into the interior gallery space, full height windows and skylights cut through large areas of the exterior walls and diaphragm. O&A worked around clerestory windows by utilizing vertically segmented shear walls at the disconnected diaphragm. Drag struts into partial height shear walls completed the load path into the foundation to stabilize the structure. Coordination was required to locate shear walls at areas with the highest gravity loading in order to appropriately locate piles for minimal foundation work. The end result was this small yet profound architectural gem by Shawn Ewbank.

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Photo credit to Keith Mosher

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09/01/2016

If you haven't noticed already, there have been some alterations to the block surrounding Ortlieb's Lounge in Northern Liberties. We are very excited to have teamed up with JKRP Architects and US Construction in the design of Ortlieb Square, which will feature 18 duplexes and a mixed-use building at the corner of 3rd and Poplar streets.