Women-owned architecture firm receives sixth Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award from Preservation Pennsylvania

Bethlehem-based Artefact, Inc. to be honored for renovations to former Laros Silk Mill

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Bethlehem, PA – Artefact, Inc., a certified Women’s Business Enterprise specializing in architectural design, interiors, and historic preservation, has been awarded a 2024 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award in the category of Construction-Rehabilitation for its renovation of the former Laros Silk Mill building in Bethlehem.

The rehabilitation of the Laros Silk Mill, now known as Laros Lofts, involved restoring key historic elements of the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while adding 114 apartments and residential utilities.

This is the sixth honor that Artefact has received from Preservation Pennsylvania, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting historic preservation projects throughout the state.

“We are humbled by the continuous recognition we are receiving in our field, which is also a reflection of our how our preservation knowledge has evolved to meet the challenges of different projects,” says firm principal Lucienne Di Biase Dooley.

In past years, Artefact has received Preservation Pennsylvania awards for their rehabilitation and design work on the Historic Lehigh County Courthouse (Allentown), the Simon Silk Mill (Easton), the Easton Public Market (Easton), the Governor George Wolf Building (Easton), and the Northampton County Courthouse (Easton).

Artefact will receive this year’s honor alongside 16 other recipients of the 2024 Historic Preservation Awards at an awards ceremony at the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg on October 24, 2024.

To learn more about Artefact, Inc., please visit www.artefactarchitecture.com.

About Artefact, Inc.

Artefact, an architecture firm specializing in adaptive reuse, new construction, interior design, and historic preservation, is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise. Founded in 1986, the firm has established a reputation for exceptional design, sustainable solutions, and extensive knowledge of historic architecture. Building types include multi-use and residential buildings, restaurants, educational facilities, courthouses, theaters, museums, and other cultural and recreational facilities. The firm also provides historic preservation consulting for municipalities as well as private developers and owners.

About Preservation Pennsylvania

Preservation Pennsylvania is the Commonwealth's only private statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people protect and preserve the historic places that matter to them. Preservation Pennsylvania was established by the Commonwealth's General Assembly in 1982 as the Preservation Fund of Pennsylvania, a statewide revolving fund to assist in the acquisition and rehabilitation of historic properties. Since then, Preservation Pennsylvania has grown into its role as a private, nonprofit membership organization with a statewide mission to protect and preserve Pennsylvania's irreplaceable historic places.

We assist individuals, organizations, corporations, and governmental agencies from across the Commonwealth in their own preservation-related efforts, through a dynamic scope of activities and services. Whether as a leader, partner, or advisor, Preservation Pennsylvania works to secure the future of the past through educational outreach workshops and events, legislative advocacy, advisory and technical assistance in the field, and other special initiatives.