Davis, Bowen & Friedel reveals design for new Salisbury office

Salisbury, Md. — Davis, Bowen & Friedel, Inc. (DBF) recently revealed design plans for the firm’s future Salisbury office space to be located on East Main Street in a newly designed office complex called River Park Center. In an effort to more adequately address current and future space needs, DBF developed a design which will convert a former supermarket into two separate spaces — DBF will occupy the 12,670 square feet on the east side of the building. Additions and renovations to the space are expected to take several months.

The planning process for the new River Park Center actually began a couple of years ago and included an early meeting with then City Council president, Jake Day, and Director of Planning and Zoning, Jack Lenox. It was agreed that, even though welcomed development attention was being sought at the City’s urban core, the Main Street corridor linking downtown to the park was equally critical in Salisbury’s redevelopment. The building, underutilized as it was at the time, was identified as a key piece of the urban planning puzzle for Main Street, and DBF set about the task of looking into its revitalization potential.

As the new office location is situated directly across from the City Park, DBF designed a conservatory-style facade and new landscaping which includes plans for submerged gravel wetlands to meet today’s stormwater management regulations and to beautify the present parking lot. In addition to architectural services, the firm is also providing structural and civil engineering services for the project. New roofing and energy code upgrades, along with complete overhauls of the building’s mechanical and electrical systems are required. In addition, the existing parking lot will be completely demolished and replaced; including as part of the work new landscaping and stormwater management systems. New windows and skylights will also be incorporated as enhancements.

“We have been looking for ways to provide a work environment for our team that is fresh, new and inspiring,” stated DBF principal Michael Wigley, AIA. “An office conducive to a more collaborative approach to design and engineering became appealing, and the idea of being on one floor at a wonderful location on the park seemed like a perfect opportunity to test these ideals. We hope that the final building and site, once completed, will be reflective of the work quality associated with our firm and one the City can take pride in as well.”

On March 3, DBF’s team assembled at the East Main location to formally announce their move and to share plan details with members of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and local and state civic leaders, as well as representatives from developer Silicato Development, SVN|Miller Commercial Real Estate, and the construction team at Gillis Gilkerson.

“We are all really looking forward to this move as we grow as a firm but also for what it means for the City of Salisbury. It’s exciting to bring new life to a vacant building while strengthening and connecting the community,” shared computer graphics specialist Kevin McCoy of DBF, Inc.