business innovation center & brew pub

designLAB was selected in August 2017 to undertake a feasibility study regarding the renovation of the historic Cornplanter Square building at 100 Seneca Street in Oil City, PA. The five story building was built in 1926, was expanded as headquarters for the Northwest Pennsylvania Bank in the mid 1970’s, and functioned as such until the late 1990’s. It was underutilized for many years and became completely vacant in the late 2000’s. To make it functioning again, the building needed a variety of renovations - like building systems, envelope, demolition, and architectural.

Venango County developed a vision to convert the old bank building into a Business Incubation Center (BIC) that would provide low-cost incubation space for startup companies to grow, with the goal of eventually moving them out to local real estate to mature. Additionally, Venango County has proposed combining this BIC with a brew pub and events program, to be managed by a local restaurateur. This ambitious combination has the potential to create a dynamic center of energy and activity for the region.

The ambitious combination of a brew pub - with a large associated events space - with a cutting edge business innovation center has the potential to create a dynamic center of energy and activity for both the region and for Oil City itself. The ability to host large events such as weddings or conferences directly opposite the beautiful bluffs overlooking Oil Creek, while also providing cutting edge collaborative office spaces for new economy-minded startups is an incredibly exciting opportunity to revitalize the downtown area and bring more businesses and activities to the existing core.