'Then & Now' Excellence in Design Tour looks at Doylestown sites

Local history buffs, students of Doylestown Borough’s impressive architecture and residents who simply love this town will want to mark their calendars and get their tickets for two special events that take a close look at four unique examples of Doylestown’s built environment—past, present and future—plus a bonus site just added to the lineup.

The 2018 Excellence in Design events are presented by the Architectural & Environmental Committee of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Major event sponsor is Carroll Engineering Corporation.

Then & Now Tour: Sunday, September 16, 1-4pm in Doylestown
This year the event is returning to its self-guided walk-and-drive tour format. Ticket-holders have an opportunity to walk through and learn about the evolution of five sites that have adapted to the needs of the owners or the community.

• Doylestown Friends Meetinghouse, 95 East Oakland Ave: Built in 1836, it is the oldest house of worship in the borough in continuous use by its original congregation. How does a faith community create a space that works for its families while maintaining its historic integrity and legacy?
• T.O. Atkinson Home, 299 Maple Ave: Built in 1870 and renovated to meet various owners’ lifestyles and contemporary standards, this home continues in its original role as a “grande dame” in the neighborhood even as much is changing around it.
• Nathan James Plaza House, 108 North Main St: Final conversion of this architecturally unique 1888 two-family home created mixed-use space ideally located at the gateway to the new Justice Center.
• Town’s Edge, 2401 Lower State Rd: A new community is taking its cue from close-knit urban neighborhoods to create this Central Bucks version of a “pocket community.” Town’s Edge, a Zaveta Custom Homes project, is hosting a post-tour gathering of site owners, tour-goers and committee members for light refreshments catered by Simply Fresh by McCaffrey’s and donated by Zaveta.
• BONUS SITE! Minimus Tiny House, Lafayette St & School La: With a mission to inspire & educate a more Earth-conscious community, this home on wheels shows comfortable and stylish living on a tiny footprint—the home of the future?

Tickets for the Then & Now Tour are $15 in advance and $20 at any of the tour sites on September 16. To purchase tour tickets by September 14, go to the Chamber’s website www.CentralBucksChamber.com; to Chamber offices at Suite 23, Bailiwick Office Complex, 252 Swamp Road, Doylestown; to Doylestown Book Shop, 16 South Main; or call the Chamber, 215.348.3913.

The tour sites are generally not appropriate for those who have difficulty with stairs, and children should be under adult supervision at all times.

Designing Solutions: A Conversation: Thursday, September 13, 5-7pm, Heritage Conservancy’s Aldie Mansion
Join your friends and neighbors and participate in a lively exchange of ideas with experts in some of the latest design trends for homes, businesses and commercial spaces—from “smart home” technology to not-so-big residential concepts. Bring your questions and prepare to be engaged. A reception with light fare by Moose & Goose Catering precedes the educational program, which begins at 5:30pm.

There is no charge for this seminar event, but space is limited. Attendees may register in advance by phone at 215.348.3913, email info@CentralBucksChamber.com or on the website www.CentralBucksChamber.com.

The 2018 Excellence in Design Tour tile, the latest in a series created for the Chamber by Mandy Baker of Whispering Hill Studio, features the 1836 Doylestown Friends Meetinghouse. Pre-orders and purchases through September 16: $30; after September 16: $35. Call Brad at 215.348.3913 or email info@CentralBucksChamber.com.

For more information and updates on the Excellence in Design seminar or tour, please contact the Chamber or visit the Chamber’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/buckschamber.

About A&E
Members of the Central Bucks Chamber’s Architectural & Environmental Committee include Chamber members from the building and design fields, related businesses and all those who have a passion for the built environment and sustainability issues. The committee’s mission is to educate and foster quality in all areas of design and to promote awareness of the environment through education.