Upper Macungie Township Community Center Building timber Topping Off
Grange Park, Upper Macungie, PA, November 20, 2025–Upper Macungie Township officials, community leaders, business representatives and construction partners celebrated the timber topping-off of the Upper Macungie Township Community Lifestyle Center, marking a major milestone in the project’s progress. The 188,000-square-foot complex is scheduled for completion next summer.
The project has gained national recognition for its innovative use of long-span heavy timber construction, recently featured in Engineering News-Record. Designed and built by StructureCraft, the facility’s timber framework spans four interconnected buildings and will include an indoor turf field, multi-use courts, fitness spaces, classrooms, and community meeting areas.
Reflecting on the collaborative effort behind the project, Bill Loewen, Senior Project Manager at StructureCraft said, “A project of this magnitude can only be successfully delivered with full buy-in from all stakeholders. From the earliest renders to the final phases of construction, the trust that the Township put into StructureCraft never wavered. It’s a true honor to be able to provide a beautiful structure for residents of Upper Macungie and neighboring communities to enjoy for many years.”
The centerpiece, Building A, is a 133,000-square-foot covered soccer field with a walking track and features one of the longest structural timber clear spans in North America at 280 feet. The beam signed and lifted at today’s ceremony is part of the structure for Building C, a single-court gymnasium.
“We are building a massive monument to the people of Upper Macungie that nobody else has. This project shows our pride in what we’ve achieved—and what we can become,” said Jeff Fleischaker, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Upper Macungie Township.
Upon completion, the center will offer year-round indoor facilities for sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, walking, running, pickleball, as well as fitness and educational classes, and community meetings. The turf field and meeting areas can also host events such as concerts, fairs, indoor movies, conferences, and senior programs.
The project team includes Upper Macungie Township (owner), HKA5 Architecture (architect), StructureCraft (structural engineer of record and heavy timber contractor), and Alvin H. Butz, Inc. (construction manager) The facility incorporates multiple sustainability features, including a turf field made from 80% recycled materials and a fully recyclable gym floor.
“Alvin H. Butz, Inc. is proud to serve as Upper Macungie Township’s construction manager for this important community project. This center showcases our firm’s ability to apply innovative and sustainable building practices,” said Mike Butz, a sixth-generation builder in the Butz family and General Manager of the construction management company’s Allentown office. “Today’s topping-off is a celebration of the construction progress resulting from the collaborative efforts of our onsite project management team, township officials, design partners, contractors, suppliers, and community partners. The next phase of construction involves fully enclosing the building. Afterward, our team will move on to interior finishing work, including the installation of turf for the indoor soccer field and gymnasium flooring, along with other related tasks.”
Project fundraising is being led by the Upper Macungie Township Community Fund, with support from founding partners Air Products, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Jaindl Family of Companies, and Alvin H. Butz, Inc., along with numerous local contributors.
For more information, please contact Mitch Hanna at mitch.hanna@butz.com.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mitch Hanna
