After two decades of serving the community, the engineering firm has moved its office closer to Penn Square.
When C.S. Davidson (CSD) expanded into Lancaster in 2005, the Firm had been operating at its York headquarters for over 80 years.
Until late 2025, the Lancaster team worked out of a cramped office at 315 W. James St. To accommodate its growing staff, CSD found its new home at 322 N. Arch St., Third Floor, which features an airy entranceway, windows in nearly every office and cubicle that overlooks downtown Lancaster, and a bright central conference room.
The new Lancaster location has greatly increased the square footage for CSD’s civil, structural, and bridge engineers and support staff, and offers the ability to expand.
“We now have space for everyone who is currently employed and room to grow on this floor. We have the opportunity to possibly even grow to another floor,” says Sondra Laub, PE, Senior Project Manager, who has worked for CSD since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown in 2003.
Building for the community
Equally important to expanding the office’s physical space was staying in the heart of Lancaster.
“It was important for us to have a presence and be able to walk to restaurants and run into people in the community, and the physical office being in Lancaster City was important when we were evaluating that,” says Nate Hardman, PE, Project Manager. He joined the firm as an intern in 2018, graduated from Messiah College, and joined the team full-time in 2019.
From its new location, CSD continues to focus on Lancaster municipal and private projects with the same passion and skill that have marked its work for over a century. From designs and projects for roads, stormwater systems, community centers, schools, senior living facilities, and green spaces, the Lancaster team continues to shape more connected and livable communities.
Infrastructure that supports residents
Much of CSD’s impact in Lancaster results from stormwater systems, bridge rehabilitation, road realignment, and development oversight that ensure public safety and support economic growth.
Jeff Shue, PE, Director of Municipal Services, has been with CSD for 39 years. He has worked with the Lancaster team since 2009, when he started serving as Manheim Township’s Engineer of Record.
While much of his work involves responding to immediate needs, he and the Lancaster team also focus on the future as they help Lancaster County municipalities thoughtfully plan and design with long-term usability and growth in mind.
“The whole concept of nonmotorized connectivity has become bigger and bigger to the livability of communities,” Jeff says, referring to making municipalities more walkable.
From road improvements that incorporate bike lanes and pedestrian paths to trail extensions, many of the area’s recent infrastructure projects have been designed for people, not just vehicles.
Strengthening community spaces
Sondra has led structural work on community-focused projects, including the Center City YMCA, Lampeter-Strasburg YMCA, Catherine Hershey Schools in New Danville, Tenfold Transitional Living Center, and a new six-story senior living facility at Homestead Village. These organizations serve critical needs such as early childhood education and housing for veterans.
Sondra and her team also advance recreational connectivity and green spaces, and are currently working on the Conestoga Pines Trail Connection project. The Waterworks Bridge has been rehabilitated, and trail development is underway, with the goal of linking downtown Lancaster to parkland and trail systems.
“It will bring the opportunity for downtown residents to safely get to the Conestoga Pines Park, where there’s a swimming pool, park facilities, and other amenities,” Sondra says.
A growing team for growing communities
Like many expanding regions, Lancaster must address aging infrastructure and increased traffic. Lancaster’s historic roadways must serve current and future vehicle volumes. Balancing growth with livability and safety, especially near schools and residential developments, requires strategic planning and collaboration.
“It is important for us to take very technical issues and derive those down into things that people can fully understand so that they can make good policy,” Jeff says.
While focusing on sustainable, environmentally conscious community planning and growth, the CSD Lancaster team is invested in its own measured expansion. The Firm is thoughtfully growing its engineering co-op program, recruiting civil and structural engineers passionate about serving the Lancaster area.
“We are intentionally expanding our staff and services so that we can continue to ensure our quality of service and timely responses meet or exceed our clients’ expectations. This office expansion is one portion of that overall plan.” Jeff says.
With a new office in the City, a growing team, and a commitment to thoughtful municipal, structural, and bridge engineering, C.S. Davidson is planning and building better communities, one park, bridge, structure, and connection at a time.