Upper Macungie marks milestone on new lifestyle center

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Upper Macungie Township officials joined together last week with community leaders, business representatives and construction partners for the timber topping-off ceremony at the Upper Macungie Township Community Lifestyle Center.  

The 188,000-square-foot complex should be completed by next summer.  

Developers of the project noted that it 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.  

 Bill Loewen, Senior Project Manager at StructureCraft commented on the work that led to this point.  

“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,” Loewen said. “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.”  

Building A of the project 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 the recent ceremony is part of the structure for Building C, which is 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, he said 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 facility incorporates multiple sustainability features, including a turf field made from 80% recycled materials and a fully recyclable gym floor.