A Chadds Ford architectural firm will participate in the rehabilitation of the First Bank building in Philadelphia’s Old City, writes Jeff Blumenthal for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

John Milner Architects focuses on historical preservation and design.  

The bank, which opened in 1795 to unite the economies of the 13 independent states, is registered as a National Historic Landmark.  

The building has mostly been dormant for 50 years. The Independence Historical Trust agreed in 2017 to raise $17 million for the building’s rehabilitation. It so far has raised $4.5 million but received an additional $22.2 million from the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020.  

The overall building will be restored to become an interactive museum about the early American economy.  

“…this will tell the story of how the bank played a role in everyday American society and the growth engine that our economy became,” said Jonathan Burton, the director of development for the Independence Historical Trust.  

The new project will include a three-story structure at the rear. While construction plans are flexible, the plan is to finish the project by Spring 2025, and to open in early 2026.  

Read more about John Milner Architects and he First Bank of the United States in the Philadelphia Business Journal.