A Window Project That Honors History and Performs for Public Safety

When the Borough of Chambersburg set out to expand and modernize its police department, window selection played a key role in balancing the town’s historic aesthetic with the advanced functionality needed for a 21st-century public safety building. The updated facility more than doubled its previous footprint to 23,600 square feet, incorporating advanced evidence labs, tactical training rooms, holding cells, secure storage areas and covered fleet parking — all while maintaining architectural continuity with the surrounding civic campus.

For a prominent civic building located in the heart of Chambersburg, the design team knew window details couldn’t be an afterthought. Pella Reserve™ — Traditional double-hung windows and arched fixed windows were chosen for their ability to replicate the authentic proportions and profiles required by architectural historians, while still delivering modern performance.

Featuring through-stile construction, detailed sash profiles and factory-applied EnduraClad® aluminum exteriors in white, these windows offer a perfect fit for the building’s brick exterior and classical civic design. The use of true divided lite grille patterns helped maintain historical consistency, while high-quality wood interiors offered warmth and durability inside.

While historical accuracy was critical, these windows also needed to meet today’s energy codes and operational requirements. Each unit was specified with dual-pane Low-E insulating glass with argon fill to optimize thermal performance, reduce condensation potential, and help regulate indoor temperatures for staff and visitors.

The Reserve line’s commercial-grade ratings — including performance classes meeting or exceeding CW and PG standards — help ensure the building delivers long-term durability, occupant comfort and energy efficiency, even through Pennsylvania’s wide seasonal swings.

This project included both replacement and new construction installation, requiring careful planning to coordinate timelines between field teams, architects and builders. Our Pella team’s involvement from early design through jobsite delivery ensured each opening was sized correctly for its designated installation method, whether full-frame replacement in the existing annex or new installation within the expanded addition.

Factory-applied exterior finishes, pre-finished interiors and branch-assembled units minimized site prep, allowing installation crews to move quickly while reducing labor hours onsite — a key benefit for commercial schedules that often face tight turnarounds.

Pella partnered closely with SGS Architects Engineers, Inc., who led the design, and Lobar, Inc., who managed construction. With decades of experience in public safety, healthcare and municipal design, SGS helped ensure the expanded building met both practical and visual goals for the borough. Lobar, a multi-generational builder with deep expertise in public sector construction, helped coordinate the multi-phase installation and maintain project momentum.

For commercial contractors and design teams working on public safety projects, product selection is rarely just about looks. Pella Reserve delivered the right balance of architectural accuracy, code compliance and installation-ready efficiency that this multi-phase municipal project required. From design consultation through jobsite delivery, Pella’s support helped keep the schedule moving while ensuring every detail met the project's high standards for both performance and appearance.