DLA+

Architecture & Interior Design

Washington Area Business Incubator

DLA+ worked with Washington & Jefferson College and Washington, PA area business and institutional leaders to assess and evaluate properties for the development of space for the Washington Area Business Incubator (WABI). WABI is a partnership among the College and local entrepreneurs. The project will provide a flexible mixed-use destination for co-working, pop-up retail, community meeting and event space, and long-term rentable office space.

Owner
Washington & Jefferson College
Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Construction Administration
Completion Date
March 2021
Project Size
15,000 SF

WABI leadership has chosen to renovate an existing abandoned strip-retail building which requires significant renovations to create an accessible, welcoming, and progressive user experience. A property assessment addressing the infrastructure of all building systems required invasive investigation with selective demolition and resulted in a comprehensive survey of necessary and recommended repairs and upgrades. Given a limited initial construction budget, DLA+ developed a phased implementation plan based on the owner’s goals and priorities.  

Phase one is complete and involved envelope repairs, a new storefront / exterior image, and interior design for approximately 4,000 SF of the 15,000 SF building. Phase two is pending in anticipation of WABI’s success in serving the entrepreneurial and startup community and supporting economic development in the City of Washington.