Award winning Pennsylvania Farm Show Project

1. REHABILITATION OF THE EXISTING FARM SHOW COMPLEX
McCLAY & CAMERON STREETS, HARRISBURG PA
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is an extensive Agricultural Exhibition Complex Location: Harrisburg, Pa
comprised of connected exhibit halls, arenas and meeting rooms. The first hall was Category: Historic Restoration
completed in 1931 and was followed by numerous expansion programs. Completion: Winter 2011
Client: Pennsylvania Department of General Services
Today the facility has over twenty-one acres under roof, and it is the largest Construction Cost: 9.9 Million
Agricultural Exhibition Complex in the United States. The goal of this renovation was Program: Renovation of existing entrances, lobbies, conference
to bring the older portions of the complex up to a standard close to that of the last rooms, exhibit halls, door and window replacement, new
expansion completed in 2001. Improvements include renovated lobbies, conference
audio visual system,and toilet rooms.
rooms, repainting the exhibit halls, a new connecting stair, a new elevator, restroom
renovations, new wayfinding signage, and a new zoned sound system.
The project focused on the McClay Street Lobby and Conference Rooms above
it but there is additional work throughout the complex in selected locations. The
McClay Street Lobby was originally the main entrance to the Farm Show, but since
the 2001 construction of the Cameron Street Lobby, had become secondary. Our
project brings life back to this entrance using the Art Deco Ornament gracing the
exterior of the orginal Main Hall and Large Arena as an inspiration.

2. THE HISTORY OF THE FARM SHOW COMPLEX
1931-PRESENT
1929 State Legislature authorizes the design and construction of a new facility to house the yearly Original Farm Show Hall, built 1931
State Farm Show, in the teeth of the Great Depression. The highly popular Art Deco Style was selected
for the design style. The Farm Show was built and it opened for the Farm Show on Jan. 19, 1931. Large Arena, built 1937
In 1937, Legislature authorized the design and construction of an expansion of the Farm Show with a North Hall, built during World War II to
new 7000 Seat Arena, now called the Large Arena, continuing with the design in Art Deco style. connect original Hall to the Large Arena
Additional Halls built between 1950-1970
During World War II the Farm Show was used to train civilian personnel in the repair and assembly
of airplane motors. During this time, the Army Air Corps Built North Hall which connected Main Hall
The Most recent expansion,
to the Large Arena. completed in 2001
Between 1950 and 1970 additional halls were constructed to meet the growing needs of the
complex.
In 2001 the Farm Show Complex increased the it’s size with a 40% expansion, which included the
Cameron Street Lobby, Exposition Hall, the Equine Arena, the Equine Barn, and the Connector Link.
It also included a modern AV System, and internet technology. The entire Farm Show Complex is now
one million square feet under roof.

3. BRINGING THE ART DECO STYLE INSIDE
THE DESIGN INTENT
One of the great strengths of the historic Farm Show Structure is the wonderful art deco ornament on its exterior. Our design concept was to use this art
deco style as a thematic element both to create visual interest in the interior, and to create an identity for the Farm Show, that would make it memorable
and a thematic destination. The Art Deco theme is reflected in the Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Frames around the major entry points, in the Signage
and Graphics, and in the decorative railings at the new Grand Stairway.

4. USING THE ART DECO STYLE AS A THEME
MACLAY STREET LOBBY
The Maclay Street Lobby is transformed with the addition of Art Deco Themed
Elements:
• Art Deco doubly articulated frames around major entry points and exhibit
cases
• Art Deco inspired color palette, deep rich colors, strong contrasts.
• New lighting grid and bulkheads beneath structural beams establish a
visual plane that masks the existing exposed piping above. Exposed
structure and piping painted out grey.
• The historic exhibit halls are given a new identity branded as “Heritage
Halls”.
• A new connecting grand stairway with art deco custom railings and an
art deco GFRC frame draws people up to the renovated meeting rooms

5. USING THE ART DECO STYLE AS A THEME
MACLAY STREET LOBBY
More features of the Maclay Street Lobby
• The existing concrete floor is cleaned and a clear
resinous sealant is appled..
• The transoms over the entry doors which had been
closed off with plywood were reglazed.
• The transoms over the doors into the Main Hall which
also had been closed off with plywood were reglazed..
• Decorative sconces reiterating the historic theme were
added.

6. ART DECO ORNAMENT AT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW
AN INSPIRATION FOR THE RENOVATION DESIGN
The Art Deco Ornament on the exterior of the historic portions of the Farm Show Complex is a
treasure. On Main Hall, the first building constructed, we have a whimsical parade of animals
processing toward the Pennsylvania State Coat of Arms.
On the Large Arena, we have a tableaux celebrating the Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage on the
north and south facades and another tableaux depicting the history of Pennsylvania Agriculture
on the East Facade which faces Cameron Street. This tableaux is a timeline going left to right. The History of Pennsylvania Agriculture
On the left you see William Penn and the Indians, to the right are the colonists and Pennsylvania
Dutch, a wonderful turkey with the art deco sunburst pattern occupies the center while on the
right side we see the industrialization of agriculture with the far right showing the wise men of
the modern agricultural leaders addressing the youth of the day.
The Pennsylvania Dutch Tableaux on the North and South Facades of the Large Arena
The Maclay Street Facade the Parade of Animals

7. ART DECO INSPIRED SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING
LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COMPLEX
The Art Deco Theme is continued in the wayfinding sign system. Prior to our renovation there was a
real problem with orientation and finding your way. We used art deco style graphic images and colors
in the sign system. You are here maps are placed at entry points and decision points throughout the
complex. The way finding works on three levels: (1) Color, the exposition halls are color coded with
a accent color up to wainscot height and on the columns. The hall identification signs have matching
colors; (2) Name, each hall has a prominent room identification sign centrally placed; and (3) Image,
each exhibition hall has an animal on its identification sign.
• I’m in the red hall
• I’m in the East Hall
• I’m by the Horse

8. GFRC FRAMES REINFORCE THE ART DECO THEME
MACLAY STREET LOBBY, KEYSTONE CONFERENCE CENTER, AND NORTH HALL LOBBY
In order to create a memorable sense of
place and to have the Farm Show have
a brand identity we named the major
destinations and entries an incorporated
this name into colorful glass fiber
reinforced frames. The named areas:
• MaClay Street Lobby;
• The Keystone Conference
Center;
• The Heritage Halls
• The Farm Show Crossroads
• The North Hall Lobby
The arched frame at the Grand Stair
that leads to the Keystone Conference
Center.
Other frame locations:
• At the new elevator leading
to the Keystone Conference
Center
• At the seating alcoves and
display cases in the Maclay
Street Lobby
• Along the corridor in the
Keystone Conference Center
• At the snack bar in the North
Hall Lobby

9. THE NEW GRAND STAIR
KEYSTONE CONFERENCE CENTER
The tired underutilized meeting rooms on the second floor were transformed into the Keystone Conference Center.
New lighting, ceilings, carpet , and AV system. A new grand stair invites people from the Maclay Street Lobby up to
the Conference center. The art deco animal images and the sunburst decorative painting create a festive inviting
atmoshpere. The decorative GFRC arch and the railings with the sunburst pattern further reinforce this theme.
The Keystone Conference Center Center has been very popular. A number of people have used it for wedding
receptions with the departure down the Grand Stair as the crowning event.

10. THE KEYSTONE CONFERENCE CENTER
ABOVE THE MACLAY STREET LOBBY

11. THE LARGE ARENA
SEAT RESTORATION AND NEW SOUND SYSTEM
Improvements to the large arena include:
• The existing wood seats were removed and refurbished with new wood slats
and repainted. Broken seat frames were repaired or replaced. The historic color
coding was restored.
• An entirely new sound system was installed complete with four input locations
on the arena floor where a portable sound board can be placed so that shows
can be run from multiple locations.
• Roof repair;
• Repainting;
• Electrical upgrades at the food booths.

12. THE FARM SHOW CROSSROADS CONFERENCE ROOM
A RESTORED MEETING ROOM AT THE HEART OF THE FARM SHOW
The Farm Show Crossroads is another named destination that we developed as part of our branding strategy. This connector between the
North Hall and Main Hall is literally at the heart of the Complex, truly a crossroads. On the second floor a former meeting room was being
used as a sign shop, the clerestory windows hidden by a dropped ceiling. We restored the clerestory windows and provided a beautiful
new meeting room with a state of the art AV system, internet and phone connections.
When we restored the clerestories, it was amazing what a beautiful space was revealed.

13. NORTH HALL LOBBY
ANOTHER MAJOR ENTRY POINT TO THE HERITAGE HALLS ZONE
IThe North Hall Lobby is one of the major entries to the facility. Prior to our renovation it was poorly marked
and somewhat obsured by a new chiller building. We replaced the entry doors and added an exterior sigh to
increase the visibility. Art deco style panels on the Chiller Building help lead visitors to this entry and give a
preview of the wonders inside.