About Us
Our Mission | Our History | Our Expertise
Our Mission
Inspiring people to live in harmony with mother nature.
Original Art.
The Manayunk Design Group will continually discover and sponsor the work of talented artists in the Philadelphia area. These works will be bought and paid for by MDG and resold to the public by consent of the artist.
Original Artifacts.
The Manayunk Design Group will work in conjunction with organizations and individuals dedicated to preserving the physical artifacts of Philadelphia’s past to obtain original artifacts dating from the American Revolution to World War II. MDG promises, in turn, to donate to the preservation of Philadelphia’s historical sites.
Smart Design.
The Manayunk Design Group will work in conjunction with contractors to design properties in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. The development of these properties will maintain or enrich the character of the general area and will reflect the vibrancy of Philadelphian history.
Our History
Francis Piller, founder, graduated with a degree in Finance and Construction Management from Drexel University and started his career in home rehabilitation. Upon graduation, Mr. Piller immediately became involved with salvaging artifacts of Philadelphia’s past through demolition work and utilized salvaged materials to restore homes.
Overwhelmed by the amount of artifacts with which he was inundated, Mr. Piller began to sell the excess artifacts to the Manayunk Antique Center. Upon closing, the Antique Center was turned into condominiums and Mr. Piller was offered the golden opportunity to purchase the Moon Over Manayunk storefront to use to sell his salvage.
Today, Mr. Piller is a pioneer in this emerging field and is proud to offer a unique blend of artistic pieces: exclusive antique salvage and striking, original artwork. Learn More »
Our Expertise
Francis Piller
Francis Piller came to Drexel to learn finance in preparation for a career in real estate. But when his real estate investments led to an interest in renovation, he returned to Drexel for a degree in construction management. Piller found that both Drexel degrees earned him respect on the jobsite, prepared him to think like an entrepreneur and encouraged him to vertically integrate his business skills. His interests continue to expand, including the founding of Manayunk Design Group, and architectural salvage firm that preserves artifacts of Philadelphia’s rich history. Along the way, he also created a “green” company twenty years before it became a national trend.
From real estate investment, to salvage, to retail, to parking lot management, Frank Piller attributes much of his business success to his experience at Drexel. In return, for the past 20 years Frank Piller has brought a vibrant and dedicated enthusiasm to his continued connection with the school. He has served as President of the Alumni Board of Theta Chi Fraternity, works with the Drexel Concrete Canoe Team, is a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and has been inducted into the College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction. Perhaps the Drexel connection closest to his heart, however, is his position as Alumni Advisor to the Drexel Smart House, an extraordinary campus-wide initiative led by College of Engineering Ph.D. candidates James Detweiler and Christopher Hobson. This visionary project, incorporating students from all the colleges of Drexel, uses the latest technology and environmentally friendly tools to design a Smart House that will eventually house college students. Piller feels he benefited greatly from Drexel’s focus on the principle of applied research rather than theoretical learning. He can watch that same principle in action today, as Detweiler coordinates Drexel students working in Smart House applications as varied as low-greenhouse emission earth concretes, IR scattering architectural coatings that promote thermal efficiency, and multi-touch displays for intuitive computer control.
In helping to financially support and mentor Drexel students who are developing and testing the new technologies and green inventions that will be the standard in construction years from now, Piller is engineering a brighter future.
Referrals.
The Manayunk Design Group will provide a list of contractors of the highest quality to the public for various services relating to property development. No contractor will pay to be referred, but will earn their referral through the quality and timeliness of their work for Piller of Philly, LLC.