Resilient Reading Roundtable 

The Bank Building Reimagined: Resilience, Reuse, and Revitalization 

Join Green Building Alliance and our partners for a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of downtown Reading’s most significant redevelopment projects. 

This Resilient Reading event will feature an early look at the transformational Fifth & Penn redevelopment project led by Shuman Development Group. 

Located at one of Reading’s most prominent downtown intersections, the $52 million project will incorporate historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and new construction to deliver approximately 150 residential units and 53,000 square feet of retail space while reactivating two long-vacant historic buildings and restoring momentum to the Penn Street corridor. 

Together with the tour guides, we will discuss: 

1. Historic preservation and adaptive reuse strategies 

2. Designing for energy efficiency and long-term resiliency 

3. Public-private partnership and downtown revitalization 

Featured speakers will include members of the project development team, Berks-area preservationists, and Green Building Alliance. 

Participants Will

1. Understand how historic preservation and adaptive reuse strategies can support downtown revitalization and economic development. 

2. Identify opportunities to integrate energy efficiency, electrification, and resilience measures into complex redevelopment projects. 

3. Explore how public-private partnerships can help unlock catalytic investment in legacy downtown corridors. 

Agenda

10:00 AM – Arrival and networking 

10:15 AM – Introduction 

10:25 AM – Building tour 

11:15 AM – Q&A and networking 

11:30 AM – Event concludes 

About Resilient Reading 

Resilient Reading is part of GBA’s broader mission to create sustainable, economically vibrant communities where every person can thrive. Resilient Reading is made possible with support from the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund. 

Through education, collaboration, and innovation, we empower local leaders to improve communities through the transformation of the built environment. Resilient Reading events bring topics to the community designed to educate, inspire, and provide examples of building energy efficiency projects, how to increase resilience against extreme weather events, financing opportunities for building upgrades, and more. 

To learn more, contact us at info@gba.org.