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Starting Strong: A Roadmap for Public Works Upgrades

In honor of National Public Works Week, we’re spotlighting the path municipalities can take to transform public infrastructure — and how to start strong.

Whether it’s a crumbling public works building, overwhelmed stormwater infrastructure, or aging municipal roads and bridges, local leaders across Pennsylvania face the challenge of maintaining and modernizing community-serving facilities — often with limited resources. That’s why Buchart Horn Architects (BHA) created “Starting Strong: A Roadmap for Public Works Upgrades,” a framework we recently presented at the PSATS 2025 Annual Conference.

Here’s a closer look at the guidance we shared for township supervisors, administrators, and municipal leaders planning their next capital improvement.

Start with the Responsibilities

Public works upgrades often touch on a broad range of responsibilities, including:

  • Roadway resurfacing and bridge repair

  • Water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure improvements

  • Public facility modernization (township buildings, police/fire, DPW)

  • Parks, playgrounds, and greenways

  • Pedestrian and multimodal safety upgrades

  • Emergency and resiliency planning

  • Solid waste and recycling improvements

These categories often intersect with local, state, and federal regulations — making early planning and stakeholder coordination essential.

How Projects Begin

Public works upgrades are typically prompted by:

  • Aging infrastructure or code deficiencies

  • Regulatory mandates (like MS4 or ADA compliance)

  • Community demand and growth

  • Environmental factors such as flooding or climate change impacts

  • Long-term capital planning or grant availability

We’ve helped clients navigate projects ranging from stormwater mitigation to emergency power upgrades to adaptive reuse of municipal buildings.

Understand the Phases

Public projects can take 2–5 years from concept to construction. The most successful ones follow a phased approach:

1.       Feasibility & Planning (3–6 months): Includes building assessments, programming, interviews, estimating

2.       Design & Permitting (6–12 months): Includes schematic design, code analysis, construction documents, and bidding

3.       Construction & Implementation (1–3 years): Depends on scope, funding, and phasing

Proper planning helps municipalities avoid change orders, cost overruns, and misaligned stakeholder expectations.

Feasibility Studies: A Smart First Step

A well-structured feasibility study helps you:

  • Assess facility condition and space needs

  • Engage department leaders and community members

  • Analyze costs for renovation vs. new construction

  • Prioritize critical upgrades and long-term goals

  • Build public and political support

At BHA, we’ve completed feasibility studies for fire stations, libraries, public works departments, and full municipal campuses — always with flexibility and future growth in mind.

Navigating Regulations

Every township is different. Whether you’re governed by First or Second Class Township Codes, or have local zoning overlays, public projects are subject to:

  • The Uniform Construction Code (UCC)

  • Stormwater (MS4) regulations

  • Permitting, floodplain, ADA, and historic preservation guidelines

  • Prevailing wage and procurement laws

Working with an experienced A/E partner who understands these layers — and has local experience — is critical to keeping your project on track.

Funding & Grant Strategy

Many upgrades don’t move forward simply because municipalities aren’t sure how to fund them.

We guide our clients through:

  • Funding sources like RACP, PENNVEST, MTF, CDBG, and DCNR

  • Matching funds strategies and cost phasing

  • Grant-writing partnerships with specialists like GMS Funding and Aspire

Our Columbia River Park project in Lancaster County is a great example — where strategic grant planning allowed a 3% local contribution to unlock over $2.5 million in project funding.

Engage Your Community Early

Public support can make or break a project. We recommend:

  • Hosting early public meetings or creating a stakeholder committee

  • Offering accessible visuals and cost breakdowns

  • Communicating project milestones throughout design and construction

When residents feel involved, they’re more likely to support funding, endure disruptions, and advocate for long-term impact.

Where to Start

Don’t wait for infrastructure to fail. The best projects begin with a clear understanding of need, a realistic look at funding, and a trusted team that can guide you through planning, design, and delivery.

Want to talk about your next public works improvement?
Let’s start strong — and build smarter for the future. Contact Scott Loercher, AIA, NCARB, Principal+Director of Design.

Raven Kraft