{"id":147233,"date":"2026-01-21T22:40:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T03:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=147233"},"modified":"2026-01-21T22:40:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T03:40:39","slug":"147233","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=147233","title":{"rendered":"DIGroup Architecture Makes Lehigh Valley Debut with Groundbreaking of Allentown School District\u2019s Transformative Family & Community Resource Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo Caption:\u00a0<\/strong>(L-R) Sr. Project Manager LoriAnne Jones, Principal Swarupa Samant, Junior Interior Designer Elena Nestico, Junior Architect Evan Carroll,\u00a0 Sr. Project Manager Paul Graebener and District Superintendent Dr. Carol D. Birks break ground at Allentown School District’s Family & Community Resource Center.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

ALLENTOWN, PA [January 21, 2026]<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0In a milestone that signals a new era of community-centric school design in the region,\u00a0DIGroup<\/a>\u00a0Architecture (DIG)<\/a>\u00a0and the Allentown School District (ASD) have\u00a0officially\u00a0broke\u00a0ground\u00a0on the first-of-its-kind Family\u00a0& Community\u00a0Resource Center. Located at 265 Lehigh St., on the campus\u00a0of\u00a0Bridgeview Academy of Health, Science, Innovation, and Technology,\u00a0the project marks DIG\u2019s first school-related Architect-of-Record assignment in the Lehigh Valley Region.<\/p>\n

The\u00a013,750-square-foot, two-story community hub is designed to be a \u201cone-stop shop\u201d for students and families. By centralizing student enrollment alongside vital health, workforce\u00a0development\u00a0and educational services, the center aims to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0one-time\u00a0systemic barriers to\u00a0facilitate\u00a0and support family success and student achievement.\u00a0\"\"<\/a>According to Allentown School District, The Family & Community Resource Center will allow the Allentown School District to focus on its commitment to empowering families in alignment with the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan. One of the goals is to transform community engagement by cultivating and expanding opportunities for communication, collaboration and connection among families, students, schools and community.<\/p>\n

Founded in 2006 to transform educational infrastructure\u00a0in\u00a0underserved urban areas, DIG has spent two decades refining a design approach that champions educational equity at its core. Now a regional powerhouse with offices in New Brunswick, Philadelphia and New York City, the firm\u2019s entry into the Lehigh Valley brings its \u201cArchitecture for Change\u201d philosophy to one of Pennsylvania\u2019s most diverse and fastest-growing cities.\u00a0The firm is a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise and a leader in creating sustainable, high-impact environments in the PK-12 and higher education, healthcare, community and civic, senior living and\u00a0aviation\u00a0sectors.<\/p>\n

\u201cDIG was founded on the premise that great architecture is a right, not a privilege, and should profoundly impact community equity and wellness,\u201d said DIG\u2019s\u00a0Principal\u00a0Swarupa Samant. \u201cTo have our first major assignment in the Lehigh Valley be a project as visionary as the Allentown School District\u2019s\u00a0Family\u00a0& Community\u00a0Resource Center is a privilege. This building is designed to bridge the gap between education and essential human services, creating a welcoming and compassionate \u2018front door\u2019 for every family entering the\u00a0district.\u201d<\/p>\n

Designed to respond directly to the holistic needs of the surrounding community, the\u00a0facility\u2019s\u00a0key features include:<\/p>\n