This past October, I had the opportunity to tour American Reading Company’s (ARC) newly redeveloped headquarters with CREW Greater Philadelphia. The tour highlighted not just the building’s impressive transformation but also the thoughtful design choices that support ARC’s mission and operations.
A Building with History
Originally constructed in 1966 as the headquarters for Yarway Corporation, a manufacturer, and later bought by BET Investments in 2003 to be redeveloped into a multi-tenant office building, the 160,000-square-foot space has seen multiple different lives. ARC acquired it just before the pandemic in 2020 and worked with Re:Vision Architecture and Total Construction Inc. to reimagine it for a post-pandemic workforce.
Sustainable Innovation: LEED Gold Certification
The redesign focuses on sustainability, earning the building LEED Gold certification. Highlights include high-efficiency systems that reduce energy use by 20%, solar panels, and restored landscaping to capture carbon. The open, naturally lit warehouse and office areas foster productivity and collaboration for ARC’s publishing and distribution teams.
Learning from the Process
During the tour, ARC COO Liz Cline and leaders from Total Construction and Re:Vision Architecture shared how they approached this multi-phase adaptive reuse project. Their insights showcased the challenges and rewards of preserving a building’s character while meeting modern needs.
This project is a testament to what’s possible when sustainability, history, and innovation come together. ARC’s headquarters is more than a building—it’s a space that embodies their mission and commitment to making a lasting impact.
Thank you to CREW Greater Philadelphia for organizing this incredible experience and to ARC, Re:Vision Architecture, and Total Construction Inc. for sharing their stories and expertise. Here are a few photos from the day, capturing the remarkable details of ARC’s headquarters:
