Opened in 1940, the Pennsylvania Turnpike was celebrated as “America’s First Super Highway,” showcasing modern engineering and construction during the nation’s recovery from the Great Depression. Built in just 15 months, it employed 15,000 workers and spanned over 190 miles. Alongside the highway, service plazas were introduced to provide dining for travelers. While the Turnpike has been rebuilt multiple times, many service plazas remained largely unchanged since their original construction in the 1940s and 1950s. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission partnered with HMS Host to reconstruct 17 service plazas under a 30-year lease agreement. The biggest challenge was designing a construction schedule that allowed work to begin after Labor Day and be completed during winter, ensuring the new facilities opened before Memorial Day without disrupting peak summer travel.