During a tour of the Pagoda on Tuesday morning, Capital Project Manager David Anspach said the restoration is moving into its final stages. “We are about 45 to 60 days from being completed,” he noted, explaining that while crews are still busy with flooring and finishing work, much of the exterior painting, roofing, and electrical upgrades have already been completed.
Much of the work inside has focused on modernizing systems and improving safety. Crews are currently installing epoxy flooring, replacing carpeted areas on several levels. “The Pagoda Foundation, in efforts to try to make it more of an easy care facility, elected to pay for a change order to have it epoxied instead of having carpet laid,” Anspach explained.
Fire protection has also been overhauled. “During the construction process, it was identified that four of the dry head sprinklers were damaged and needed to be replaced,” Anspach said. “Unfortunately, that’s also the magic number for the fire marshal to say that the entire building needs to have new sprinklers. So the entirety of the dry head sprinklers throughout the building have been replaced.”
Lighting has been upgraded to LED throughout the structure, though original fixtures were preserved for historical value. Other adjustments have included ADA-compliant bathroom modifications and updates to ventilation and heating systems.
Mayor Eddie Moran highlighted the security improvements. “It’s important to point out that we have security cameras throughout the building both in and out,” he said. “In addition, our camera system is tied directly to the police department, so they would always have access to any activity on the premises.”
Work on the exterior is largely complete, including roofing, painting, and electrical upgrades. The new exterior lighting circuits have been tested and are awaiting full integration into the building’s control system. Crews expect scaffolding to come down by Thanksgiving. “We certainly will be able to operate the lights for Santa this Christmas,” Anspach said.
Once renovations are finished, management of the Pagoda will remain under the Pagoda Foundation through a memorandum of understanding with the city. The foundation will oversee programming and use of the space.
“What we would love to see is them do a variety of different things between maybe having a train room that exemplifies the Reading Railroad to serving local delicacies like Sweet Street desserts or Reading Premium sodas,” Anspach said. “And really highlighting the things that are produced here in Reading as well as Berks County, and using this tourist attraction to really show the world what Reading and Berks County is all about.”
While the Pagoda does not have a full-service kitchen — something that would require cutting new ventilation holes in the historic walls — officials said lighter fare and pre-prepared foods are being considered for the café space. The site may also host catered events where prepared food is brought in and served.
Although the construction contract runs through early January, project leaders expect substantial completion before then. “We’re about 45 to 60 days from completion and I believe the Pagoda Foundation is planning on doing a public opening mid-April,” Anspach said.
For now, visitors will have to wait a little longer before stepping back inside the iconic red structure, but city officials say the final product will blend historic preservation with modern safety and accessibility upgrades — ensuring the Pagoda remains a centerpiece of the Reading skyline for generations to come.
