Urban Civil Engineering Magazine
Old City’s Benjamin Rush Garden has undergone recent transformations thanks to Urban Engineers, a Philadelphia-based consulting firm offering support services across disciplines. The achievement has recently been featured in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Engineering Magazine.
Independence Historical Trust (INHT), Independence National Historical Park’s philanthropic partner and GPA member, contracted Urban to make various improvements on the garden in order to revitalize the space. Urban is an avid leader in sustainable and infrastructure initiatives in the city, and VP and Philadelphia Regional Leader Jennifer Waters sits on GPA’s Board of Directors.
For this project, Urban employed its expertise in the planning, design, environmental, and construction fields to renovate this Philadelphia landmark, which is located within Independence National Historical Park and home to the Bicentennial Bell, the gift given by Queen Elizabeth II to the United States in 1976.
Last renovated 60 years ago, Benjamin Rush Garden has been a centerpiece in Old City for locals who walk its paths everyday to first-time visitors witnessing the historic and walkable spaces Philadelphia has to offer. The recent improvements include a new stormwater management system that utilizes existing structures and better protects the garden’s features, new waterline connections to the fountain, an accessible ramp, new lighting, and new plant beds.
The project’s completion culminated in an opening ceremony in April, 2025, highlighting the success of a collaborative effort prioritizing heritage preservation, urban planning, and sustainability. By adding more functional features to its original design, INHT, Urban, and other partners ensured that the decades-old visions for the garden not only lived on but were reinvigorated. With visitation already increasing, INHT is now also offering educational signage, guided tours, and digital resources to inform the public about the history of the garden, the Bicentennial Bell, and 18th-century Philadelphia.
Urban’s tagline – Where U Matter – echoes the new sentiments of the space: inviting visitors, bringing back recognition to a significant historical landmark, and sustainably meeting the needs of an urban location. Mike Thomas, PE, VP, Site and Civil Practice Leader for Urban shared the details on the project through the article published by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
To read Mike Thomas’ full article in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Engineering Magazine, visit https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2026/01/a-piece-of-american-history-is-home-in-philadelphia.
