Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing

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Client Penn Real Estate Group

Location Bala Cynwyd, PA

Scope 127,000 SF

A riverfront hotel on the site of a historic iron foundry innovatively reuses the original building’s materials.

Located on the riverfront site of the former Pencoyd Iron Works in Bala Cynwyd, the new Residence Inn by Marriott is designed to both remind visitors of the area’s 20th century industrial heritage while offering its guests a comfortable, contemporary experience.

Many existing materials have been reused in the design. The building is clad with galvanized steel beams, Roman brick, fiber cement panels, Corten steel, and rusted steel panels which have been reclaimed from the site. The materials were chosen due to their light weight and durability, while the brick base grounds the building to the site. Not only does this material reuse honor the site’s history, but it was an economical and practical decision that complements Pencoyd Landing at large.

Several of the existing steel trusses that frame the exterior have been repurposed from the original factory structure, creating a more prominent reminder of the site’s heritage for residents and pedestrians walking both the river trail and the Pencoyd Bridge.

Pencoyd outdoor image with people walking around below the trusses

Metal sheets reclaimed from the site have been included in parts of the facade.

These trusses were originally from inside the old Pencoyd Ironworks factory building.

The new building engages with the waterfront development along the Schuylkill River which has gone underutilized by other developments in the area. In addition to the hotel, the owner also implemented an extension of a recreational river trail and restored the Pencoyd Bridge, which provides a connection between the suburbs with the Manayunk area of Philadelphia.

Stairs, pathways, bridges etc. extend from the building directly onto the waterfront pathway. Glass in the first floor lobby and amenity spaces always engages occupants with riverfront views.

Rendering

Final Project

A mix of unit types are provided, varying from studios to one-bedrooms. All units face toward the waterfront and no units face towards the parallel railroad and highway, which reduces noise and offers privacy. In total, there are 124 units across 7 stories.

Included in the design are many top-of-the-line amenities, such as a salt water lap pool, fitness center, game room, fire pit, patio, multi-purpose conference room. The waterfront site incorporates a section of a recreational trail that connects Center City Philadelphia to the suburbs. The hotel also includes a new rooftop restaurant and ground floor cafe, run by Top Chef Winner Nick Elmi and Philadelphia restaurateur Fia Berisha.

The Ironworks at Pencoyd Landing is the winner of Architect Newspaper’s 2021 Best of Design Awards in the Urban Design category, the 2022 Montgomery Award, a 2023 Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Achievement Awards, and was a Finalist for AIA Pennsylvania’s 2023 Architectural Excellence Awards.