History

Established in 1945 by Norman B. Kuhn and C. Edgar Newcomer as Kuhn & Newcomer, VEBH Architects has served the communities in and around Southwestern Pennsylvania for 70 years. Since our earliest years of practice, we have had an expertise with healthcare and educational design, two of the most challenging building types. It is an expertise that has permitted us to branch out and deliver quality, detail-oriented service to other businesses and building types that serve the public.

Today, VEBH Architects is led by  Thomas F. Durkin, Daniel C. Engen, John C. Reid, Cassandra R. Renninger, and Jim Jasper. Each is a working architect, with expertise and a drive and dedication to client service. Each of our principals has more than two decades of architectural design and project leadership experience.

VEBH Milestones

2009 to present – VEBH Architects

• 2018 – Jim Jasper joins VEBH as firm principal
• 2017 –  John Reid and Cassandra Renninger become firm principals
• 2011 – Daniel Engen becomes a firm principal
• 2016 – Cassandra Renninger joins VEBH as a Senior Associate.
• 2015 – John Reid becomes Senior Associates; Jacklyn (Dunn) Cowan becomes an Associate
• Selected projects of note:
  • Blackhawk School District – Highland Middle School
    • AIA Pittsburgh People’s Choice Award Winner
    • A4LE Project of Distinction
  • The Children’s Home & Lemieux Family Center Expansion of Pediatric Specialty Hospital
    • 2016 March of Dimes “Building Project of the Year”
  • WVU Healthcare Berkeley Medical Center – NICU and other projects
  • Waynesburg University Roberts Chapel
  • Waynesburg University Stewart Science Hall Renovation/Addition
  • Industrial Scientific Corporate Offices
  • St. Clair Hospital Surgery Addition
  • Monongahela Valley Hospital Surgery and Regional Cancer Center Additions
  • Wheeling Jesuit University – Conservatory of Music
  • First Niagara Bank – New Village at Pine Branch Office
  • Harmony Medical Holdings – Surgery Center and Medical Office Building
  • Vincentian Academy Master Plan

1997 to 2009 – Valentour English Bodnar & Howell, Registered Architects

• 1998 – Robert D. Bodnar leads firm as president.
• Selected projects of note:
  • Waynesburg University Stover Campus Center and multiple Residence Halls
  • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary New Residence Hall
  • Sharon Regional Health System Diagnostics and Imaging Center
  • Monongahela Valley Hospital Melenyzer Building and ED Expansions
  • The Washington Hospital New Patient Towers
  • North Allegheny School District Ingomar Elementary School
  • Trinity High School
  • St. Thomas More Family Life and Education Center
  • Hampton Township Community Center
  • PA Army National Guard Armory (Connellsville)

1987 to 1997 – Valentour English Bodnar

• 1992 – Thomas F. Durkin and Stephen Kurpiewski become firm principals
• 1993 – William F. English leads firm as president.
• Selected projects of note:
  • St. Clair Hospital – ‘C’ Wing Addition
  • The Washington Hospital – ‘E’ Wing and ‘E’ Wing Addition
  • West Penn Hospital Laboratory Building
  • Industrial Scientific Corporate Headquarters
  • Foerster Instruments Labs and Offices
  • Keystone Oaks School District Elementary Schools and Middle School
  • Peters Township School District new Middle School
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer new Church (Oakmont)

1979 to 1987 – Valentour English & Associates

• 1979 – Robert D. Bodnar becomes a firm principal
• 1986 – James D. Howell becomes a firm principal
• Notable projects:
  • Consol Energy Research Campus (South Park, PA)
  • Transitional Infant Care Hospital for Children’s Home of Pittsburgh
  • Series of Housing and Urban Development Projects
  • Beginning of client-relationship with The Washington Hospital
  • Peters Township Municipal Building

1973 to 1978 – Johnstone, Newcomer & Valentour

• 1973 – Firm merges with Johnstone – McMillin
• 1973 – Louis Valentour leads firm as president
• Notable projects:
  • University of Pittsburgh Chevron Science Center
  • University of Pittsburgh Barco Law Building
  • University of Pittsburgh Posvar Hall (Professional Quadrangle)
  • St. Clair Hospital multiple expansions
  • New Forbes Regional Hospital

1956 to 1973 – Kuhn Newcomer and Valentour

• 1956 – Louis F. Valentour becomes partner
• Notable projects:
  • St. Clair Hospital multiple expansions
  • University of Pittsburgh Hillman Library (joint venture)
  • University of Pittsburgh Crawford Hall
  • Canon-McMillan High School
  • Keystone Oaks High School
  • Ft. Cherry High School
  • McGuffey Junior-Senior High School
  • Charleroi Junior-Senior High School

1945 to 1955 – Kuhn and Newcomer

• 1945 Firm established by Norman B. Kuhn and C. Edgar Newcomer
• Notable projects:
  • St. Clair Hospital (original building)
  • Major expansion of Penn State’s Pattee Library
  • North Strabane Elementary School
  • Caste Village Shopping Center
  • Westinghouse Atomic Equipment Plant
  • Sears Retail Store (Mt. Oliver)
  • Holland Chevrolet Dealership (Carnegie)
• May 1, 1950 – Moved to current office location in Mt. Lebanon