Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 7318 |
| Work Detail | Construction gets into high gear this month as workers transform a 268-acre working farm into a new reception venue for the Greater Lehigh Valley. The barn at Bell Gate Farm in Lower Milford Township will become an event center for hosting activities, including weddings, proms, dinners and holiday work parties at a site that dates to the 1780s. Workers are focusing on completing the renovation of the barn, with the first event booked for Oct. 8 and first wedding for Oct. 15, said Stephanie Stevens, owner of Bell Gate Farm. SAGE Design-Inc. of Upper Macungie Township is the construction manager hired by Stevens. With 22 events booked, Stevens said she is looking forward to the opening. The firm is installing an exterior deck and adding new finishes to support the look of the barn. Once renovations are complete, the barn can comfortably accommodate about 200 seated guests, Stevens said. Workers will create a downstairs room called the “prohibition room,” a 1920s-style speakeasy designed to be comfortable with old-fashioned gaming tables, she said. The barn will have a floor-to-ceiling window and a deck that looks out on the property with scenic views throughout, plus a grand entrance. While the construction will add new features, the architectural integrity of the Pennsylvania Dutch style will remain intact, she said. Workers will add a pergola on top of the grand entrance with the original bell from Bell Gate Farm, she said. “What’s really great about this location is it’s accessible but secluded,” Stevens said. “We’ve got everything on site for you.” Amenities to the barn include a full, commercial kitchen and complete infrastructure upgrade, plus utility services, restrooms and energy efficiencies. She has a partnership with Rodale, based in Emmaus, which is the exclusive caterer that will provide farm-to-table food for events. She is striving to create an experience that’s both relaxed and stress-free, particularly for weddings. “It’s very intimate, it’s very casual and you literally just have to put on your dress,” Stevens said. Workers also will renovate two cottages, one for the groom and another for the bridal suite. Around the barn, workers will complete landscaping to enhance the property. “The mission is really to support he farm and the land and my daughter,” said Stevens, whose daughter is 2. “She’s going to remember this construction project; this will be a legacy left to her.” Stevens, who lives at the Great House at Bell Gate Farm, said she inherited the property two years ago from her parents and always remembered it as a space where people gathered. She is looking ahead to continuing the legacy. Having grown up on the property, she decided to increase the opportunities for the community to enjoy the property, with potential offerings such as outdoor movie nights and classes for yoga and cooking. Stevens has two consultants and is hoping to grow to a staff of five. Stevens is using other local companies, such as David Hornung Architect Planner Inc. of Allentown, to complete the project. While the bulk of the work focuses on renovating the barn, the farm will remain active. Bob Gehman, a farmer who operates a dairy farm, still uses the site, Stevens said. He will continue to rent about 130 acres and grow crops. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.lvb.com/article/20160906/LVB01/160909958/renovations-nearly-complete-for-iconic-lower-milford-property |
