Making a Strong Statement in Downtown Lititz

2019 C. Emlen Urban Community Revitalization Award - Historic Preservation Trust

Presented for projects that enhance a historic district or community that include historic buildings and improves the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Presented to the Oak Tree Development Group for the Wilbur Chocolate Factory Project

It is extremely difficult to transform an iconic historic landmark into a new and even more important structure within a community. This was the task given to RLPS Architects of Lancaster, PA. The Wilbur Chocolate Factory began its life in downtown Lititz, Pennsylvania on the site of the Martin & Muth’s Coal and Lumber business as a factory built to produce Kendig Chocolate. 

Two original buildings built in 1902 were joined in 1913 by the third, a five-story building, which is best known today as the Wilbur Store building. This building proved very beneficial because ingredients could easily be received by rail at the Reading and Columbia station next door. In August of 1930 the Wilbur-Suchard Chocolate Company of Philadelphia merged with Kendig and by 1933 the name was changed to just Wilbur Chocolate.    Wilbur Chocolates were best known for their famous Wilbur Buds?, which were first introduced in 1894 prior to the Hershey Kiss. Ownership of the company changed hands several times over the years until it closed in 2016, leaving a large gap in the downtown and the fabric of Lititz. 

The Oak Tree Development Group purchased the site and retained RLPS Architects. They developed a plan centered on maintaining and highlighting the oldest and most iconic masonry buildings making up the original factory, and adding new structures utilizing materials and design elements that blended well with the old. Exposed masonry and structural wood beams and columns are standard features throughout the new complex.

The resulting development will transform the downtown through introducing residential units, public amenities, a restaurant, retail food market and a 74-unit Hilton Tapestry hotel on the upper floors. It is an example of large scale adaptive re-use of a historic building.