MH EBY SALES & SERVICE CENTER

For MH Eby, a family-owned manufacturer of heavy-duty aluminum trailer and truck bodies, product quality and reliability are crucial – after all, it’s their name on the line. Equally important are the relationships and trust they have built after a near-century of experience. It’s these same principles that drew them to work with TONO Group to plan and execute the design-build of their facilities nationwide. Over the span of 10 years, TONO Group has been tapped to develop two sales and service centers and expand the brand’s primary manufacturing plant. When it came time for MH Eby to reimagine their former Central Pennsylvania headquarters and convert it to a regional sales and service center, they once again called upon the expertise of TONO Group.

The existing 10,350-square-foot office portion of the facility needed significant retrofitting and interior improvements. Much of the structure hadn’t been renovated in more than 30 years, making the building’s infrastructure obsolete compared to modern standards. Additionally, the building lacked the amenities sought by today’s workforce, and the overall aesthetic no longer represented the brand’s forward-thinking identity. Adding to these complexities, the facility would need to remain operational throughout the process with over 30,000 square feet of vehicle service and manufacturing space and nearly 50 full-time personnel on-site.

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OUR APPROACH

Pulling from our multidisciplinary approach, TONO Group developed a two-phased design and construction plan executed over nine months to allow functional continuity within the facility. TONO Architects served as designers and planners while also providing executive leadership and project administration to the client team. PROTO Construction managed the build, initiating early project sequencing and estimating to ensure timely and efficient delivery. Interiors by DECO outfitted the workspaces and common areas to communicate the MH Eby brand while enhancing functionality and comfort for both personnel and visitors. Throughout the process, TONO Group worked closely with MH Eby to examine the company’s projected growth strategies ensuring the space not only met their needs today but would also remain flexible to accommodate future demands.

OUTCOME

Today, the MH Eby sales and service center in northeastern Lancaster County features a distinct customer entrance and experience area to support retail transactions and includes a more efficient configuration for operational and customer care teams. The building footprint and all interior spaces received layout improvements, retrofitted mechanical systems, as well as enhanced lighting and updated finishes. By streamlining the interior layout and grouping core service areas, such as restrooms and mechanical spaces, the new arrangement provides surplus space for additional team members without adding area to the building’s footprint.

The new layout also boasts a dedicated employee entrance that leads directly into the heart of the facility with upgraded break areas, presentation spaces, locker rooms, and restrooms. With vastly improved environmental systems, new exterior windows, roofing replacements and insulating strategies, the core work areas of the facility have been optimized for energy performance, streamlined maintenance, and occupant comfort. The renovated facility is a representation of the company’s heritage while remaining consistent with its nationwide architectural identity.