The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce has named The Waterfront the recipient of the Lehigh Valley Environmental Innovations Award in the Large Business category. The award was presented at the 2024 Lehigh Valley Sustainability Summit, which recognized three organizations for their environmental work. Alongside The Waterfront, LANTA was honored as a nonprofit, and Easton Yards as a small business.
From steel mill to riverfront
The recognition reflects how The Waterfront was built, not just where it sits. The 29 acres along the Lehigh River were once home to Lehigh Structural Steel. Reclaiming that ground meant removing dilapidated structures and unused railroad track left behind by a previous era of industry, then rebuilding the site for a new use. The Waterfront Development Company treated the river and the land as assets to protect, not obstacles to work around.
Environmental engineers guided the planning from the start. Their data and expertise shaped how the site was cleared, graded, and rebuilt, so that redevelopment respected the river it borders. The result keeps the natural setting central to the district rather than incidental to it.
Sustainability built in
That thinking carries into the buildings themselves. A living green wall anchors the lobby, bringing plant life indoors and softening the transition from river to interior. Daylight harvesting in select spaces uses natural light to reduce reliance on electric lighting, trimming energy use during the day. These are not afterthoughts; they are choices made early and engineered into the design.
Why it matters for the Lehigh Valley
Turning a former industrial site into a riverfront neighborhood is one of the more demanding forms of development, and doing it with the environment in mind is harder still. The Environmental Innovations Award acknowledges that effort and places The Waterfront among regional leaders, setting the standard for responsible growth in a district built on reclaimed industrial land. Recognition for environmental stewardship is fitting.
The Waterfront is honored to receive this award and grateful to the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce for the recognition.
See how the district reconnects Allentown to its river. Explore the River Walk or browse the offices. Schedule a visit.