Positively Philadelphia: Putting High-Tech Windows In Historic Buildings
By Lauren Lipton
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two longtime area businesses have joined forces to collaborate on a first-of-its-kind project right here in Philadelphia.
Window manufacturer Arthur Berkowitz, president of J.E. Berkowitz, developed a new system, "Renovate," which allows high-efficiency windows to be installed without disrupting -- or damaging -- the existing building.
"Think about a storm window, and your own home. To provide some further protection during the winter months, you apply a storm window from the inside. Ours is different -- because the storm window is temporary, you're always installing it, removing it. Our system is a permanent, hermetically sealed system from the inside. That's what Renovate is."
This is particularly important in Philadelphia, because it allows new energy-saving windows to be installed without changing the outside of an historical building. Their first project was the high-rise office building at 400 Market Street in Old City Philadelphia.
"Our company was founded by my grandfather in 1931," says Renovate-certified installer Mark Rabinowitz (top right). "I'm a third-generation family business owner along with my brother Rob.
"This is our 92nd year in business," notes Arthur Berkowitz (bottom right), "and we've had a big footprint in the Philadelphia market. Some of the most notable buildings in Philadelphia we supply include Comcast headquarters, the new Barnes museum."
And both companies plan to stay in this area even though the system could go nationwide. Why?
"Because this is where our home is," says Rabinowitz. "Our business is an extension of our family, and we have employees who have been with us... one just retired after thirty years of employment with us. It's home."
That's "Positively Philadelphia!"
