In 2017, SGA and its architecture affiliate, Landmarks SGA, worked with Potter Township outside of Pittsburgh, PA and the Independence Conservancy to develop a master plan for Rocky Bend Park. The project focuses on enhancing the unique characteristics of the site and improving upon them to create a public facility that is functional, educational, ecologically engaging, and aesthetically pleasing. The site is unique in that it was formerly a top-secret U.S. Defense Department airplane fuel storage facility constructed during WWII.

SGA is now pleased to announce that it has been retained to develop final architectural designs and oversee construction for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of Blending Barn #1. The new facility will serve as a public park pavilion as the next step towards realizing the vision of that master plan. The signature history of the site, industrial architectural style, and deconstructed state of the Blending Barn will be the driving forces behind the design. The SGA team’s design will improve access to the pavilion and introduce key features to increase the functionality of the structure. The lower level of the building will be secured and utilized for storage, while the upper level of the barn will receive a new roof, an indoor fireplace, and improved safety features. The siding on the upper level will be stabilized and rehabilitated as needed to maintain the raw industrial aesthetic. A new outdoor space will be leveled adjacent to the Blending Barn and made ADA accessible. SGA looks forward to the opportunity of working closely with Potter Township and the Independence Conservancy to realize this project.