Bellevue Bathhouse Renovation Reaches Key Structural Milestone in Philadelphia | January 20, 2026

Morabito Consultants, Inc. (MC) is proud to share continued progress on the Bellevue Bathhouse renovation in Philadelphia. Located within the historic Bellevue Hotel, this project transforms existing interior space into a new high-end bathhouse and wellness environment—while working within the constraints of the original structure. Tantillo Architecture is leading the design, with Fastrack Construction serving as the General Contractor and Alderson Engineering providing MEP engineering.

Wide view of Bellevue Bathhouse renovation interior with temporary guardrails and active construction.

Structural engineering within a historic framework

As Structural Engineer of Record, MC’s role centers on enabling modern spa performance standards within an existing, historic building system. The project requires careful investigation, coordinated detailing, and construction-phase collaboration to integrate new pools and spa features while respecting existing structural limitations and field conditions.

Close-up of existing structural steel connection and surrounding masonry/ceiling conditions during renovation.

MC scope of work

MC’s structural scope includes:

  • Reinforced concrete pool and spa support systems

  • Pool and spa secondary containment slabs

  • New topping slabs and slab depressions

  • Interior framing modifications to support new layouts, finishes, and equipment

  • Coordination of waterproofing systems and mechanical interfaces

View of new metal deck/framing and existing structure coordination inside Bellevue Bathhouse renovation.

The structural design also incorporates delegated concrete pool work, detailed slab depressions, defined coordination zones, and support framing allowances for future finishes and equipment.

Milestone achieved: secondary containment slabs placed

A major milestone has now been reached: the pool and spa secondary containment slabs have been placed and are ready for the next major step—concrete pool forming and reinforcement installation.

Secondary containment slab area for pool/spa with waterproofing/containment liner installed at Bellevue Bathhouse.

Reaching this point required careful sequencing, field verification of existing conditions, and tight coordination among the design and construction teams to align structural, waterproofing, and mechanical requirements.

Looking ahead

With containment in place, the project transitions into the next phase of pool construction and structural integration. As work continues, the team remains focused on maintaining schedule and quality while addressing the complexities typical of adaptive reuse—especially within a historic property.

The Bellevue Bathhouse is a highly coordinated effort that blends historic fabric with modern spa performance expectations. MC is proud to support the project team in bringing this new amenity to life inside one of Philadelphia’s landmark properties.

Project Team

  • Structural Engineer of Record: Morabito Consultants, Inc. (MC)

  • Architect: Tantillo Architecture

  • General Contractor: Fastrack Construction

  • MEP Engineer: Alderson Engineering
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