NEWS.
Latest & Greatest.
Whether it's a new project, construction industry updates, an employee teaming event or an opportunity to celebrate the best in our community - there's always something to talk about at McDonald Building Company.
Batman the Drone is back at it again - NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments
Batman dusted off his drone wings to come back to the skies to give us one great progress shot for Flyby Friday at the NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments in the Allegheny West neighborhood in Philadelphia! The team onsite wrapped up 2nd floor precast plank install in March with the 3rd floor plank finishing up as we speak (or write, you know what we mean…). The 48-unit affordable senior housing community is quickly rising in the Philly skies and on track for completion this Fall. We can’t wait to share even more progress to come in the next few months – and even more excited for Batman to be back in action grabbing epic shots of these fantastic sites! #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #flybyfriday #newcourtland #alleghenywestfoundation #batmanthedrone #batmanisbackbaby #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #senioraffordablehousing #eyesintheskies
NewCourtland , CBP Architects, Allegheny West Foundation, Unique Metal Concepts, Jemco, Stone Sherick Consulting Group, LLC.
MBC Project Team: Iliana Limon, Matthew Kreft, BETH CICHONSKI, Ed Swank, Beth Giorla
Batman Pilot Extraordinaire: Andrew Lojewski
A tradition unlike any other - MBC celebrates our 15th annual Opening Day of the Masters!
Fore-teen was fun, but FIFTEEN was a hole-in-one! MBC’s 15th Annual Opening Day at the Masters Party was tee-rific! We celebrated in full swing with our incredible colleagues, loyal clients, fantastic friends, and beloved family…because everything’s better when you’re under par and overjoyed.
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Special appearances were made by the one and only Eldrick Tont (aka Tiger Woods… kind of), and our crew brought the energy to match! From our Putterup Buttercup trick shot, chipping game, and Putterball, delicious food from Sunnybrook, to the 19th hole bar, and of course, signature sips sprinkled throughout, it was truly a party to tee-member.
The whole office was on par, the memories were un-fore-gettable, and the fun? Off the charts. Thank you to everyone who helped make this another Masters to remember! We can’t wait to say "Hello Friends" to another year of celebrating. Here’s to fifteen years of fairways, friendships, and a tradition unlike any other! #mbcmastersopeningday #masterspartee2025 #forethewin #golfpunswelcome #puttyeah #eldricktontapproved #tigerandme #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccares
Groundbreaking work over at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Health and Wellness Center!
McDonald Building Company proudly attended the official (!) groundbreaking of the Beaumont at Bryn Mawr Health and Wellness Center! This 29,000-square-foot renovation will offer essential and meaningful enhancements to the Wellness Center and Health Center. Renovations will include refreshed finishes, modernized bathrooms, integrated technology, and upgraded HVAC systems that align with the latest DOH standards – all while ensuring daily operations continue to run smoothly for the residents and staff.
MBC was honored to be on site for this exciting milestone! A thundering round of applause and congrats to Joseph J Peduzzi, President & CEO and Adam Day, COO of Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, and the entire project team that was able to attend. The groundbreaking ceremony was also an excellent chance for the whole team to thank the board, residents, Owner’s Representative - Becker & Frondorf, and amazing architect - Core States for their dedication to the project and to see the possibility of what lies ahead. Even Batman the Drone made an appearance from the sky to grab a quick picture of the excitement below!
With the site now mobilized and construction beginning shortly, MBC looks forward to enhancing the everyday experience for residents through thoughtful and quality-driven spaces. Cheers to this exciting step ahead – it’s truly, well…groundbreaking! #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #groundbreaking #seniorliving #newproject
Beaumont At Bryn Mawr Retirement Community, Becker & Frondorf, Core States Group
MBC Project Team: Andrew McDonald, Michael Mohr, Angelica Kreider, Renee Ellick, BETH GIORLA, Paul McDonald, Tom McDonald, Brad Springer, Danielle Terpoilli, Laura Clevenger, Andrew Lojewski
Cheers to 15 Wonderful Years!
Cheers to 15 incredible years! To kickoff the celebratory year ahead, the MBC team gathered last week for a quick toast to celebrate 15 years since we opened our doors. We raise a glass for the last 15 years and to each of you who made it possible – from our entire staff, project teams, clients, architects, partners, industry leaders, family, and friends we are proud to share this milestone with all of you. Here’s to 15 years and many MANY more to come! Cheers! #fifteenyears #mbccares #mbcproud #mbccelebrates #happyanniversary #wegetourlearnerspermit
MBC takes Flamingo Fridays to a new level!
TGIFF - Thank Goodness it’s Flamingo Friday! MBC’s Carpenter Apprentice, Noah Fisher is dressed to impress as our resident “flock star” on this fine Friday...always a great start to a flamazing weekend ahead. #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccares #buildingontrust #tpz #beonewiththeflamingo #letsflaminGO #phillyzoo #zoolife
Philadelphia Zoo
Photo Credit 📸 Sam Cellucci
MBC has Beary Exciting News at The Philadelphia Zoo!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG…AND WE’RE COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION!
As the seasons change and the world wakes up, McDonald Building Company is stretching out and shaking off the winter snooze with an exciting new project at the Philadelphia Zoo (drumroll please) the complete transformation of Bear Country! This $20M renovation is no small feat! MBC is ready to roll but this project will take time, patience, and careful planning to create a state-of-the-art habitat designed to help the Philly Zoo’s Andean bears and sloth bears feel truly at home. More space means more room to roam, climb, and explore.
The upgrades include an enrichment-focused design, foraging & hunting zones, seasonal adaptability, and interactive guest experiences. Bear Country incorporates custom climbing structures, rockwork, and water features to encourage the bears’ natural behaviors, as well as elements that will simulate hunting and scavenging experiences, keeping the bears mentally and physically active. Visitors will get up-close insights into these incredible species with new educational features highlighting conservation efforts and wildlife preservation.
But Acclimating Takes Time… just like bears easing out of hibernation, settling into a new home doesn’t happen overnight. Andean and sloth bears are naturally cautious explorers, and we’re giving them the space and time they need to feel comfortable, safe, and at home in their brand-new habitat. That’s why our gradual acclimation process ensures their environment feels natural and familiar from the start. Every tree, rock, and pathway is designed to make the transition smooth and stress-free because even the coziest dens take time to feel like home! This transformation isn’t just about upgrading a habitat but ensuring the highest standards of animal care, conservation, and education as set by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Giving all Philly Zoo guests a deeper understanding of these amazing species and how we can help them in the wild, while MBC will wrap up work in late 2025, our koal-ity residents will need some extra time to get used to their just-right habitat.
Bear With Us…big changes are coming! We couldn’t do this without the incredible partnership with Philadelphia Zoo – their support for our team is un-bear-lievable! We also want to thank PGAV Architects for their design: they handled designing the "bear" necessities and beyond to make Bear Country all that it is. With completion set for December 2025, we can’t wait to share more beary exciting updates as we continue to build on trust and bring Bear Country to life! #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #buildingontrust #phillyzoo #bearcountry #springhassprung #comingoutofhibernation #bearyexciting #aza #conservationmatters #bearwithus #denreno #bearbnb
Philadelphia Zoo PGAV Architects Dan Bosin Associates Association of Zoos and Aquariums
MBC Honors all of our amazing ladies during WIC Week 2025
The women of McDonald Building Company celebrated all throughout last week honoring the strong ladies who contribute each and every day to the world of construction. Philly NAWIC chapter hosted a kickoff lunch on Monday celebrating the history and efforts of Susan B. Anthony’s suffrage movement, thanks to The Baldwin Group of KOP for hosting. We also celebrated later in the week with brunch and a site tour at The Philadelphia Zoo hosted by our very own Ali Perkey, CHC, Shea Tomlinson, and Sam Cellucci to describe the intricate and complex builds we are doing there all across the zoo grounds. As WIC Week 2025 officially comes to a close, MBC is honored to recognize and say THANK YOU to all women working in the variety of roles of the construction industry. Together We Rise. #mbccares #buildingontrust #wicweek #togetherwerise #womeninconstruction
Giant Jenga was a towering success for MBC - next year we’ll bring our top-tier game!
MBC brought our A-game, leveled up our skills, balanced the pressure, and TOWERED our way into the Elite Eight at the ACE Giant Jenga Tournament! Was it our skill? Our Strategy? Or was it Senior Project Manager, Jeff Graef, and his “lucky” t-shirt keeping us steady? Beyond the Jenga towers and nail-biting competition, we are proud to support ACE Mentor Philly’s inspiring mission - mentoring the next generation of AEC leaders. This event is always a highlight for the MBC team and one to attend for an even better cause - thank you ACE and Simeone Automotive Museum for a great evening. And big thank you to Brian Rawlings from O'Donnell & Naccarato for his tireless effort and dedication to making this event so fantastic each year! #mbccares #buildingontrust #ACEMentorPhilly #AEC #giantjenga #gamefaceson #stackedstrategy #nextyearweregonnawin #jeffsluckyshirt #simeoneautomuseum #yeartoprep
ACE Mentor Program of Greater Philadelphia
Shout out to our Giant Jenga Dream Team Extreme: Blair Biggin, Chris Fernes, Jeff Graef, Iliana Limon, Paul McDonald, Tom McDonald, Brad Springer, Laura Clevenger
Christy Recreation Center in West Philadelphia awards MBC as GC!
McDonald Building Company is honored to be the general contractor for the Christy Recreation Center enhancements and renovations, the space has been a long-standing cornerstone staple to the West Philly Community. MBC is eager to watch the progress for the 40,000 square-foot renovation project that will refresh and enhance this beloved gathering place while preserving all the memories and history housed within these walls. We want to offer a huge thank you to Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA & PHDC) for their investment back into the community and to SMP Architects for their artistic vision for shaping the future of Christy Rec Center that will be enjoyed for many years to come. Once finished the project will bring a new spray ground to cool off in the summer, upgraded playgrounds, resurfaced basketball courts, a multi-use striped court, outdoor fitness stations, and expanded seating areas. Keeping it cool just in time for summer…We’re also making important ADA-compliant upgrades to help keep Christy Rec accessible and continue being a welcoming place for all.
We broke ground in November and are making steady progress towards completion slated in late spring 2025. Big shoutout to our MBC project team for ALL their dedication to bringing this vision to life. West Philly, this space has been part of your stories for years, and we are thrilled to be part of its next chapter together! #mbcbuilds #buildingontrust #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #awardannouncement #workinprogress #westphilly #christyreccenter #philly #renovations
MBC PROJECT TEAM: James Cameron, CHC Robert Whartnaby Jack Kenney Justin Lausch Regina Ennis BETH GIORLA
Eagles Pride and Slab-on-Grade at NewCourtland Clearfield Apartments
Well, look at that! That's how you pour in style! A smooth concrete pour this week at Clearfield Apartments to complete the slab-on-grade and look who showed up to help... an Eagles-themed concrete truck bringing that big championship energy to the job site! Shout out to Clearwater Concrete for laying the solid foundation for success and big thanks to our crew for keeping things rolling…onto the structure! #progress #mbcbuilds #slabongrade #concretepour #clearfieldapartments #collaboration #gobirds
Madison West Elm final photos are HERE!
February is often considered the month of love, and we can’t help but spread the love when we look at these incredible FINAL photos of Madison West Elm over in Conshohocken. MBC couldn’t be prouder to see this project come to completion from foundation to finishing touches and looking identical to the rendering that JDavis presented back in the pre-con phase – it’s truly a full circle moment. Seeing the 443,228-square-foot, 13-story residential development taking its place in the Conshy skyline is an immense accomplishment. Located just along the Schuylkill River, this luxury building brings 348 upscale apartment units and top tier amenities for residents. We could go on and on about the resort-style elevated pool deck, rooftop lounge with a perfect view, and the modern state-of-the-art fitness center inside, but we’re capped on only so many characters for these posts! Blending modern urban living with Conshy’s distinct unique charm – Madison West Elm shines with the stunning exterior finishes adding this polished product to MBC’s final portfolio of work.
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McDonald Building Company is incredibly proud of the achievements this great build brought forth and humbled continually by the hard work and dedication to the team that made it possible. Thank you to Equus Capital Partners and Affinius Capital for your trust in us to bring this vision to life. And thank you to JDavis/O-N/AEI for your precision and craftfully creative designs that delivered a perfect product for residents to enjoy for years to come that is just simply beyond words. A testament to the power of collaboration, we could not have done this without our MBC team onsite. The Madison West Elm project elevated Conshy to new heights – literally! For more final photos, check out the project link here.
Welcome to the MBC family, Madison West Elm – we’re proud to have you here! #buildingontrust #madisonwestelm #mbcbuilds #mbcpartners #welcometothembcfamily
MBC Team: Iliana Limon, Jeff Graef, Ali Perkey, CHC, Kelly Giuliani (McGettigan), Jack Kenney, Jared Applegate, Harry McCook, Regina Ennis, Brad Springer, Danielle Terpoilli, Dylan Robertson, Matthew Coleman
MBC wears their best green to support our Eagles at the Super Bowl, E-A-G-L-E-S!
We’re on the countdown to greatness! The MBC Office wore their lucky Eagles green to support the Eagles this weekend for their Superbowl WIN! We’re counting down to the big game and rooting on our guys for another Eagles victory. Wait, are we having déjà vu?Feels like we’ve been here before...This time it’s not about reliving the past…it’s about rewriting the ending. GO BIRDS! #buildingontrust #mbccares #flyeaglesfly #phillyproud #ringthebell #gobirds #superbowl
MBC is making big progress over at The Hill at Whitemarsh - Hawk Ridge Villas!
Progress, Progress, Progress! As we wrap up January coming to a close, MBC is far from slowing down over in Lafayette Hill. The team onsite is hitting a major kudos marker of 25% complete (!) for our Hawk Ridge Villas build at The Hill at Whitemarsh. Steel is up in between the foundation walls, slab-on-deck this week, and wall panels are anticipated early February. When completed, this two-story customized senior residences will expand the campus by 20,000 square feet with lots of luxury amenities to boot. We could go on and on about what’s yet to come for this build but right now we tip our hard hats to our team onsite who has made this possible – Andrew, Chris, Renee, Danielle, Brad and Beth. Big thank you for our valuable partnership with The Hill at Whitemarsh having MBC as their trusted CM onsite and thanks to our friends at Barton Partners for their architectural design expertise. Construction is still trucking along with our anticipated completion by end of Summer 2025 and we will share more progress to come. hashtag#mbcbuilds hashtag#buildingontrust hashtag#mcdonaldbuildingcompany hashtag#progress hashtag#thehillatwhitemarsh hashtag#bartonpartners hashtag#seniorliving
The Hill at Whitemarsh Careers BartonPartners Architects Planners, Inc.
MBC team: Andrew McDonald Renee Ellick BETH CICHONSKI Danielle Terpoilli Brad Springer
Special MBC Spotlight Shout-out to our Office Manager, Michelle Tyler, weaving up a storm for the Philly Airport!
MBC is rocking and rolling into 2025 - and we are proud to shine the spotlight on our talented Office Manager, Michelle Tyler! Michelle's artistic talents are taking flight with a special art installation over at the Philly Airport. Inspired by her own Grandmother, Grandmom's Granny Square Rocker is part of PHLAirport Art installations project and is proudly displayed between Terminals A East and B... keep an eye out when you're traveling! When she isn't being an absolute rockstar at MBC - Michelle is working on custom creations that will KNOT disappoint. Be sure to check out her work at Only Meesh Handmade to stay in the LOOP for all her creative crocheting creations. Congratulations, Michelle! #mbccares #buildingontrust #mbccares #buildingontrust #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccreates #philly #PHLairport #rocking2025
Happy Holidays from all of us at MBC! Cheers to a Merry and Bright 2025
Wishing you a very happy holiday season from all of us at MBC. As we continue to build towards a bright 2025, we want to take a brief moment to wish you joy and health for a wonderful holiday season. Each of you helped to lay the groundwork for an incredible 2024 and we can’t wait for what 2025 has in store. Happy Holidays from the MBC crew. Cheers!
#mbccares #buildingontrust #holidaygreetings #cheersto2025 #merryandbright
MBC is tickled pink working with the Philadelphia Zoo for their Flamingo Habitat Upgrade!
The temperatures may be cooling down in Philly, but MBC is just heating up with several great projects on the horizon, especially with our new work at the Philadelphia Zoo. McDonald Building Company is proud to be working on a few major projects, including renovations to the existing aviary and upgrade to the Flamingo Habitat for our feathered flamboyance friends. The existing free-flight aviary has long provided guests with the joy of flocking to the Zoo to see this unique pink pack. Now, we’re good to flamin-GO with boots on the ground for the 17,996 square foot renovation expected to finish around the New Year. Thanks to the brilliant work of Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. (PGAV Architects), guests will get to experience the habitat like never before with an all-glass enclosed space featuring walk-through paths for a chance to see these Phoenicopterus (say that, five times fast!) up close! The new habitat plans to expand the footprint of the flamingo wading pool and nesting area. Once construction is complete, the Flamingos will greatly benefit from the space by keeping them safe year-round from the highly contagious Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The habitat will also provide educational feeding experiences for guests through the Philly Zoo’s participation in the Flamingo Species Survival Plan (SSP). This program, established by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ensures the long-term survival of these fabulous flamingos through successful breeding – the winged residents will be simply tickled pink.
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Our newly formed partnership with the Philadelphia Zoo is invaluable and the start of a beautiful fur-iendship. 👷 🤝 👷♀️ We have lots of exciting updates including renovations to the South End of the zoo...we can’t wait to share what more we have in store – we’re so excited we’re standing on one leg. 🦩 😅 🦩 #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #buildingontrust #mbcbuilds #philadelphiazoo #phillyzoo #flamingos #pgav #zoolife #letsflaminGO #aza #projectannouncement
MBC Team Special Shout Out: Jeff Graef Ali Perkey, CHC Dylan Robertson Sam Cellucci John Weiland Regina Ennis
Procore’s Groundbreak 2024 was Groundbreaking Fun and Insightful!
Procore’s Groundbreak 2024 event may have just passed but we are still reeling from what an amazing event it was! Senior Project Manager, Jeff Graef ventured to the mile-high city to see what all the excitement was about. The two-day event at the Colorado Convention Center brought together innovative construction professionals worldwide to learn from insightful future-forward sessions and experience groundbreaking technology. In addition to all these incredible opportunities, we got to meet up with the greatest Procore Certified Consultant of all-time, David McDonnel, in person! Dave is a huge reason why Procore launched successfully at MBC and why Procore’s offerings are still a daily tool to help keep us mobilized and optimized. Dave has stuck with us since the very beginning of our Procore journey and we couldn’t have it without him. A big thank you to Procore for an inspiring event and constantly reinventing how we can all be groundbreakers. #buildingontrust #mcdonaldbuildingcompany #mbccares #groundbreaker #innovationandeducation #procore #procorepals #Contech #GBK24 #wegotdaveashirt
Friendsgiving Success - MBC traditional Thanksgiving Feast and Card Signing!
Nothing marks the start of the Thanksgiving season for MBC other than our tradition of Thanksgiving Card Signing and (of course) our Friendsgiving Feast Luncheon! November keeps the Norristown office busy and in the holiday spirit, with staff signing cards to express our thanks to our loyal partners and client and ending the week off right with a well-deserved Friendsgiving Potluck. Check out these friendly faces enjoying one of MBC’s favorite months - National Gratitude Month. Pecan hardly believe we are approaching the end of November but couldn’t miss the opportunity to express our thanks to all of you for being here during this grateful time of year. Let’s keep the good thymes rolling and enjoying the reason for the season. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Cheers! #mbccares #buildingontrust #mbcfriendsgiving #gourdtimes #thanksgivingseason #turkeyth
Groundbreaking for NewCourtland’s Clearfield Apartments marks the start of an incredible project to come!
We're now full speed ahead to begin building at NewCourtland 's Clearfield Apartments in the Allegheny West neighborhood of Philadelphia. This 48-unit new construction affordable housing community for seniors will energize the area and provide several supportive care services, including onsite healthcare offerings to its residents. MBC is proud to serve as the building partner once again for NewCourtland after the successful completion of St. Barts Phase II earlier this year - a 90-unit senior housing community in Northeast Philadelphia. Let's get going! Congrats to NewCourtland and all the building partners involved including Allegheny West Foundation , CBP Architects and MBC project team members Erick Tripp Ed Swank Iliana Limon Regina Ennis Matthew Kreft on a successful groundbreaking ceremony on Friday! Clearfield Apartments expects to open in Fall 2025; stay tuned for progress updates.#buildingontrust #newcourtland #newproject
Pennsylvania Conference for Women hosts the MBC Ladies for a fantastic Networking Outing
The lovely ladies of MBC enjoyed a jam packed day yesterday at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia...a day full of inspirational keynotes & speakers, personal & professional development, networking & community. #pennwomen #powerinunity #mbccares #mbcladies
MBC STAFF: Iliana Limon Ali Perkey, CHC Kelly Giuliani (McGettigan) Beth Armbruster, MBA Laura Clevenger Danielle Terpoilli Michelle Tyler
