Renovations are officially underway at the historic Pagoda atop Mount Penn, with city officials aiming to restore and modernize the 117-year-old landmark while preserving its cultural and architectural legacy.
Construction began April 1 as part of a broader effort to enhance the Pagoda and Skyline Drive Park under the direction of Mayor Eddie Moran and with support from City Council. The work is being funded through a combination of $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and more than $1.7 million in city investment.
During a media tour of the Pagoda on Thursday, reporters got a firsthand look at the interior and exterior updates already in progress. City Capital Project Manager David Anspach led the tour, outlining the scope of the work and anticipated timeline.
Among the key upgrades are repairs to the building’s exterior stonework, new LED lighting throughout the structure, and restoration of roof tiles, floor tiles, and painted surfaces. The building will also receive new heating systems, upgraded fire protection, and improved restrooms on multiple floors to meet ADA compliance.
Scaffolding will be erected around the entire structure by May 31 and is expected to remain in place until early October, temporarily obstructing the building’s view from outside. One of the most visible changes will come June 1, when the Pagoda’s traditional lighting will go dark to accommodate electrical upgrades. If all goes according to schedule, officials plan to illuminate the building again on December 25 — “to blink for Santa,” a city tradition.
The goal is to complete all renovations by the end of 2025, Anspach said.
“I grew up in the area in the nineties, and I remember you used to be able to throw a dollar in the little donation bin to climb the stairs,” Anspach said. “This is an icon for our community here in the city of Reading, and it does have a significant draw. So I’m really glad to get it renovated and get it back to the public.”
Inside the building, crews have already begun demolition of outdated fixtures and finishes. Historic tiles are being cataloged and replaced where damaged. Lighting fixtures are being outfitted with LED bulbs, and heating systems are being upgraded from oil to high-efficiency propane.
Accessibility is also a focus of the project. While the building’s historical architecture limits the ability to add new entry points, the city plans to create a dedicated driveway for ADA access to the base level, and fully renovate restrooms on the basement and third floors.
Some structural repairs are also needed, particularly to a concrete support beam on the lower level that has suffered from deterioration over time.
The restoration effort is being overseen by Dolan Construction, with subcontractors Warko handling plumbing and mechanical work and Hirneisen overseeing electrical upgrades. The full project carries a combined construction value of over $4.7 million.
Elsewhere along Skyline Drive, additional improvements are ongoing. A new ventilation system has been installed in the William Penn Fire Tower, and new automatic security gates are now operational daily from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. A camera system is also being installed, with four cameras at the Pagoda and seven others along Skyline Drive. That system is roughly two-thirds complete.
In keeping with the building’s historical significance, the city has prioritized careful preservation during the renovation process.
“We contacted the Pagoda Foundation, Public Works, and the Artifacts Bank before removing anything. Only after those rounds did we clear out what was left,” Anspach said, noting the effort to salvage historically valuable materials before any demolition occurred.
The project also includes a goal of reducing construction waste by 60 to 75 percent through material conservation and reuse.
Additional improvements, including the renovation of walls and staircases surrounding the building, are expected in a future phase. While that portion of the project is already partially designed, it does not yet have identified funding.
Despite the extensive work ahead, city officials remain optimistic.
“We wanted to make sure that the investment we’re gonna put in is attended to,” Anspach said during the tour. “This building was built to last, and we’re making sure it continues to do just that.”
