Worldwide Acclaim
Holloway’s interest in Wilmington station spans many years. His Penn State design thesis created a transportation center adjacent to Wilmington station that integrated buses and other forms of passage. He also narrowly missed the opportunity to work on Wilmington station’s first major renovation in the early ’80s. “I actually worked at the firm that did the 1982 renovations though I didn’t work on the project,” he recalls.
It is said the best things come to those who wait, and, for Holloway, that is certainly true when it comes to Wilmington station. After his firm completed the renovation/restoration, Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station was recognized with a prestigious 2011 Brunel Award, which is bestowed by the Watford Group, an international volunteer association consisting of railway architecture and design professionals. More than 150 entries were received in 2011. Nineteen winners were chosen as the best in railway architecture, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station was one of only two U.S. winners.
“We were flattered to be recognized on an international scale,” Holloway says. “We are local architects who just tried to do a good job with our treasured local gem of a building. It was quite an honor and humbling that the things we thought were important and the systems that were set up were recognized not only by Amtrak, but also by international railway experts. This project is one of the highlights of my architectural career.”
Online Buzz
Watch this story come to life as William Holloway, AIA, LEED AP, principal in charge with Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, highlights unique aspects of the historic train station’s retrofit in a video walkthrough. retrofitTV.com
Retrofit Team
Architect of record: Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, Wilmington, Del., www.bernardon.com
Restoration architect: Frens and Frens Restoration Architects, West Chester, Pa., www.frensandfrens.com
Structural engineers: MacIntosh Engineering, Wilmington, www.macintosheng.com
Construction manager: Michael Baker Jr. Inc., Hamilton, N.J., www.mbakercorp.com
General contractor: Shoemaker Construction Co., Conshohocken, Pa., www.shoemakerco.com
Waterproofing consultant: TBS Services, Haddon Heights, N.J., www. tbsservices.com
Lighting designer: Architectural Lighting Design LLC, Ambler, Pa., archltg.com
Retrofit Materials
Track waterproofing membrane: B-Tuff Waterproofing System from The Garland Co. Inc., www.garlandco.com
Terrazzo floor: General Polymers, a Sherwin-Williams company, generalpolymers.com
Marble floor restoration:
- Patch: Akepox 2010 epoxy resin from Akemi, www.akemina.com
- Strip: Crowbar Ultra-Strength Stripper from The Butcher Co., (800) 225-9475
- Clean: Stonecare PRO Signature pH Neutral Cleaner from M3 Technologies Inc., (800) 342-4533
Masonry coating at stair: Soldalit System from KEIM Mineral Coatings of America, www.keim.com
Aluminum replacement windows: Traco, a division of Kawneer, www.kawneer.com
Chandelier restoration: Crenshaw Lighting, www.crenshawlighting.com
Laminate wall panels: Trespa, www. trespa.com/us
Solid-surface counters: DuPont Corian Solid Surfaces, www2.dupont.com/corian/en-us/bi/corian-solid-surfaces.html
Escalators: ECO3000 Escalator from KONE, www.kone.com
Elevators: KONE