How do you balance the needs of a building that must incorporate modern sustainability features while honoring its historic significance, all the while keeping 30 government-agency tenants happy in the process?
The Strawbridge & Clothier building has a storied history. It was constructed as a department store in 1928 at Eight and Market Streets in Philadelphia occupying a site where, from 1790-1793, Thomas Jefferson presided as Secretary of State for the young United States of America. The current building’s historical context, however, is it Beaux Arts features, extravagances that resulted in its completion wildly over budget on the eve of the Great Depression.
“Featuring marble floors and polished mahogany counters, wide aisles and gracious staircases, plush restrooms for the ladies and in-store fashion shows by Junior League debutantes,” Dianna Marder wrote in a 2006 Philadelphia Inquirer ode to the by-then defunct Strawbridge’s store, “Philadelphia’s grand department stores stood as beacons of style and set the tone for public decorum.”
Fortunately, the 801 Market Building went on to benefit from a nationwide movement to encourage preservation of historic properties while supporting the economic health of central business districts, accomplished by repurposing them as office space for government tenants. The relocation plans of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services mirrored this model when the agency enlisted Armand Corporation to oversee renovation of office space for some 30 different governmental agencies.
Armand was successful in adhering to regulations for preservation of a historic landmark building as well as requirements of LEED Gold certification. Working with both the Philadelphia Historical and Museum Commission and the US Green Building Council, Armand was able to achieve LEED Gold status while respecting the stringent regulations involved in acknowledging and preserving the building’s rich history and distinctive Beaux Arts architectural details. For example, the Historic District Commission and LEED standards required that new interior partitions adjacent to the perimeter wall, which normally separate office spaces, be constructed of glass partitions and transparent office furniture systems. This made the partitions invisible from the outside of the building, thus preserving its historical appearance and simultaneously allowing natural sunlight to penetrate deep into the office, a LEED requirement.
A federal report describing the concept of “historic building stewardship” lauded “the government’s potential to act as a catalyst for social and economic good and create champions for urban location and reuse.”
Armand Corporation is proud to have been a part of it at 801 Market Street in Philadelphia.
Shamsell Abdill brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry to her role as Vice President at Armand Corporation. She oversees the company’s building and infrastructure programs, serving as Project Executive, and is renowned for her expertise in contract administration, project management, problem resolution, and M/WBE compliance. Her career highlights include contributing to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center as part of the Procurement and Change Order Management Team, where she gained extensive experience in procurement and negotiation. Shamsell leverages her comprehensive industry knowledge to build strong professional relationships with agencies and utility companies, minimizing impacts on construction schedules. Her diverse project portfolio spans corporate, correctional, healthcare, educational, and landmark building restorations, as well as masonry renovations. She is adept in various project delivery methods, including construction manager as agent, construction manager at risk, design-bid-build, and design-build, making her an invaluable leader in delivering successful projects for Armand Corporation.
Robert “Bob” Mello is a seasoned construction professional with over 35 years of experience managing both new construction and renovation projects. As Associate Vice President of Pre-Construction at Armand Corporation, Bob specializes in overseeing planning and construction-related services for public and private clients.
A licensed Professional Engineer in New York State, Bob’s extensive expertise includes managing projects across urban environments and on-call contracts. His skill set encompasses facility planning, property condition assessments, constructability reviews, quality control and compliance, energy efficiency initiatives, and scope and schedule reviews.
Bob’s comprehensive approach ensures effective construction management from initial phases through project close-out, making him an invaluable leader in delivering successful outcomes for Armand’s clients.
CariAnn Palmese is a senior program manager with nearly 20 years of experience delivering program management and administrative support for large, complex, multi-million-dollar projects. Her expertise includes developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the successful execution of challenging initiatives.
A highlight of CariAnn’s career was guiding the Nassau County Department of Public Works in managing community reconstruction projects under a $36 million CDBG-DR capital program. Currently, she works alongside Armand’s team to provide construction management services for disaster recovery capital programs, showcasing her dedication to driving successful outcomes in high-stakes environments.
Jerome Wright is a seasoned financial analyst with nearly 20 years of accounting experience across diverse industries. As Associate Vice President of Operations at Armand Corporation, Jerome excels in managing and tracking vendor invoices, ensuring timely processing using project-specific templates, and providing hands-on assistance to vendors with invoice submissions.
Jerome’s expertise includes preparing detailed invoice summary reports for Program Manager approvals and collaborating with Program Managers to resolve billing discrepancies. He has a proven ability to reconcile financial data, comparing and correcting invoice details while working closely with project management and accounting teams to address invoicing issues.His commitment to precision and collaboration makes him an integral part of the operations team.
At Armand Corporation, We are committed to maintaining a secure and transparent hiring process. Please be aware of potential job scams that misuse our name to solicit sensitive or personal information. We do not request Social Security numbers, bank account details, or payment of any kind during the initial stages of the hiring process. Additionally, we never offer employment without a formal interview process. All applicants are required to participate in one or more interviews before any job offer is extended. While we may request verification of education, certifications, or licenses during the later stages of the hiring process.
If you receive suspicious communication claiming to be from Armand Corporation or are uncertain about the legitimacy of a job offer, please contact us directly at careers@armandcorp.com for confirmation. Protecting your privacy and ensuring a fair and professional hiring experience is our top priority.
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Phillip Grant is responsible for overseeing the company’s daily operations and driving the execution of strategic initiatives. He manages key relationships with stakeholders, including boards, owners, consultants, and contractors. Phillip is also responsible for negotiating contracts, resolving budget and schedule challenges, and integrating innovative technologies. He has over 20 years of extensive expertise in economic development, engineering, and public infrastructure. Phillip has successfully managed multi-billion dollar capital construction programs, focusing on sustainability, compliance, and efficiency. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, a Certified Construction Manager and holds a BS in engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Mercy University. He is also a member of the Construction Management Association of America, National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
