RPA Engineering's MEP/FP design helped bring a Digital Lab and Visitor's Conference Center for Hitachi in Hagerstown, Maryland, from bold concept to built reality.
RPA Engineering is proud to celebrate the recognition of the Hitachi Experience Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, which received three awards at the 2026 Design Pittsburgh Awards, presented by AIA Pittsburgh:
- 2026 Certificate of Merit – Medium Project Category
- 2026 Excellence in Acoustics Award
- 2026 People’s Choice Award
RPA Engineering provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) design services for the project, working alongside our partner Desmone Architects to turn an ambitious architectural vision into a constructable building. Earning recognition from both the awards jury and the public through the People’s Choice vote makes this an especially rewarding moment for everyone involved.
Bringing an Innovative Vision to Life
The Hitachi Experience Center is a state-of-the-art Digital Lab and Visitor’s Conference Center designed to showcase Hitachi’s advanced rail technology. The building’s striking all-glass architectural concept was envisioned by the Italian firm Guigiaro Architettura and brought to life through collaboration between Desmone Architects and RPA Engineering.
RPA provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEP/FP) engineering design services, helping transform the ambitious architectural concept into a functional, constructable facility while preserving its distinctive aesthetic.
At the heart of the Experience Center is a Digital Lab featuring a simulator designed to demonstrate Hitachi’s rail technology. Integrating the building’s technical systems required careful planning and close coordination among the design disciplines.
Engineering That Stays Out of Sight
In a building defined by transparency and clean lines, building systems have nowhere to hide. Bringing the concept to life required careful coordination of the MEP/FP design so that every system supported, rather than interrupted, the architecture’s aesthetic intentions.
That meant close attention to detail throughout, particularly in:
- Lighting design: developed to complement the glass architecture and the visitor experience
- Ceiling layouts: where HVAC diffusers and other ceiling elements were carefully placed to keep the overall look clean and uncluttered
The result is a facility where the engineering performs quietly in the background, letting the architecture and Hitachi’s technology take center stage.
Celebrating Collaboration and Engineering Excellence
The project’s recognition reflects the importance of collaboration between architects and engineers in delivering innovative spaces where design and functionality work together.
RPA’s project team included:
- Paul Parise, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Project Manager
- Derek Cherkes, PE, Electrical Engineer
- Kate Harper, EIT, Mechanical Engineer
- Nate Adams, PE, Mechanical Engineer
- Kianna Funk, Mechanical Designer
Congratulations to Desmone Architects, the entire project team, and everyone involved in bringing the Hitachi Experience Center to life. RPA is proud to have contributed its multidisciplinary engineering expertise to this award-winning project.
The recognition reinforces RPA’s commitment to delivering thoughtful, coordinated engineering solutions that support ambitious architectural visions.
