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The Navy Yard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Mixed Use—Three Uses or More
Volume 39 Number 04
January–March 2009
Case Number: C039004
PROJECT TYPE
Based on a 2004 master plan created by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the
Navy Yard is a redevelopment of Philadelphia’s historic navy yard located
along the Delaware and Schuykill rivers just three miles (4.8 km) from the
city center. Under development by the Philadelphia Industrial Development
Corporation (PIDC), the 1,200-acre (485.6-ha) project comprises both new
construction and adaptive use, with an ethic of sustainability permeating all
aspects of planning, development, and operations. At buildout and after an
expected $2 billion in private investment through public/private partnerships,
the Navy Yard will feature a total of 15 million square feet (1.4 million sq m)
of space and will support more than 20,000 employees. As of February 2009,
the project has a number of tenants, including Urban Outfitters, the Aker
Philadelphia Shipyard, Barthco International, Tasty Baking Company, and the
U.S. Navy, and over 7,500 employees working there.
LOCATION
Outer Central City
SITE SIZE
1,200 acres/485.6 hectares
LAND USES
Shipyard, Office Building(s), Research and Development, Retail, Marina
KEYWORDS/SPECIAL FEATURES
Adaptive Use
Waterfront Location
Sustainable Development
Brownfield Development
Industrial Development
Military Installation Redevelopment
Public/PRivate Partnership
Infill Development
Marina
PROJECT ADDRESS
The Navy Yard
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Quarters A, 1413 Langley Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WEB SITE
www.navyyard.org
DEVELOPERS
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
215-218-2847
www.pidc-pa.org
Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners
Malvern, Pennsylvania
610-648-1700
www.libertyproperty.com
ARCHITECT AND PLANNER
Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP
New York, New York
212-967-5100
www.ramsa.com
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Navy Yard features more than 1,200 acres (485.6 ha) of mixed-use development comprising diverse
architectural styles—new high-performance office buildings, historic brick structures dating to 1875, huge industrial
and distribution facilities, and state-of-the-art research laboratories. This historic waterfront property is becoming
a regional draw for business development and job generation as well as a magnet for corporate headquarters.
Located at its current site in 1876, the Philadelphia Navy Yard was decommissioned in 1996 under the Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Act. During the mid-1900s, an estimated 50,000 people worked on the property.
Since ownership of the Navy Yard was transferred to the Philadelphia Authority of Industrial Development (PAID)
in 2000, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) was given responsibility for planning and
development, population on site has increased from a historic low of 3,000 to 7,500 as of January 2009. At
buildout, the development is projected to generate 20,000-plus jobs and more than $2 billion of private
investment over the next 20 to 30 years.
The master plan for the Navy Yard, prepared in 2004 by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, divides the property into five
land use areas: the 450-acre (182.1-ha) Shipyard, the 167-acre (67.6-ha) Historic Core, the 70-acre (28.3-ha)
Corporate Center, the 81-acre (32.8-ha) Research Park, and an additional 200 acres (80.1 ha) that have been set
aside for future development.
The Shipyard. Considered the heart of the Navy Yard, the Shipyard contains updated buildings and infrastructure
in addition to direct rail and ship access. Five dry docks, four deep-water piers, and 3.4 million square feet
(315,870 sq m) of space are occupied or under development as of January 2009. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, one
of the most modern commercial shipbuilding and repair facilities in the United States, occupies 110 acres (44.5 ha)
and serves as anchor for the industrial campus. Aker employs over 1,300 people and has more than $2 billion in
current work. Together with its network of suppliers, Aker constructs 2.5 ships per year. Other tenants in this area
include Tasty Baking Company’s baking and distribution center and a sound stage for Paramount Picturesmajor
film companies. A 170,000-square-foot (15,794-sq-m) speculative development for the new Navy Yard Commerce
Center is under construction (as of January winter 2009) by Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners that provides
high-technology office, manufacturing, and distribution functions within one space.
The Historic Core. The nationally registered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard Historic District, known as the Historic
Core, is the town center for the Navy Yard. Defined by mature landscaping, one mile (1.6 km) of prime waterfront,
and low-rise, red-brick industrial buildings, it currently houses comprises 2 million square feet (185,806 sq m) of
office and research and development (R&D) space and opportunities for infill and residential projects.
Urban Outfitters (UO), the a major clothing retailer, is the anchor for the Historic Core and a catalyst for historic
renovation and adaptive use at the Navy Yard. UO consolidated its operations from scattered sites in Philadelphia
to an 11-acre (4.5-ha), five-building brownfield campus. Each edifice houses a separate component—corporate
headquarters, Anthropologie, UO brand, Free People Brandbrand, and an 80,000-square-foot (7,432.2-sq-m)
campus commons known as Building 543 that provides a public cafeteria, coffee bar, library, and UO employee
fitness center. Sustainable design features were incorporated into the plan, together with extensive landscaping,
surface parking, and extant rail lines that provide a network of pedestrian paths. The Urban Outfitters Corporate
Office Campus received the Urban Land Institute’s 2007 Global Award for Excellence.
The Corporate Center. Serving as the gateway to new construction at the Navy Yard, the Corporate Center
benefits from high visibility from Interstate 95 (I-95). Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners has exclusive rights
to develop the 70-acre (28.3-ha), $300 million Corporate Center featuring 1.4 million square feet (130,064 sq m)
of build-to-suit, mid-rise Class A office space. New, sustainably designed buildings with ground-floor retail are
surrounded by parks, with surface parking behind the structures.
One Crescent Drive, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, was the first new office building (77,000 square
feet/7,153.5 sq m) at the Navy Yard and earned the nation’s first LEED Platinum certification from U.S. Green
Building Council for a developer-built, multitenant office structure. The development team also completed a
50,000-square-foot (4,645-sq-m) corporate headquarters for Unique Industries. Under construction as of January
2009, the Tasty Baking Company’s corporate headquarters will be located at Three Crescent Drive. A fourth
building and a hotel are envisioned, with six other structures proposed for future development.
Research Park. The 81-acre (32.788-ha) build-to-suit Research Park will accommodate 935,000 square feet
(86,864 sq m) of flexible office space, laboratories, R&D uses, and production facilities. Planned as a suburban-
style research campus for a consortium of academic institutions, the site is located near area universities,
hospitals, and private corporations. Growth of this sector focuses on the commercialization of technology as
demonstrated by a $20 million, 75,000-square-foot (6,968-sq-m) building for AppTec Laboratory Services, a
pharmaceutical manufacturing company with 150 employees; and a 25,000-square-foot (2,323-sq-m) data center
for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange being developed by Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners.
Future Developments. The plan reserves a 200-acre (80.94-ha) tract of vacant land with 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of
Delaware River frontage for future development such as corporate office space, an executive conference center,
housing, destination commercial services, a public marina, and the expansion of existing uses. In addition, a
portion of the land could accommodate big-box distribution and manufacturing—particularly appropriate if the Port
of Philadelphia immediately to the north expands toward the Navy Yard. However, there are major access and
infrastructure challenges in this area.
THE SITE
Located in south Philadelphia just three miles (4.8 km) from the center city at the southern end of Broad Street,
the Navy Yard is situated at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. There are seven linear miles
(11.2 km) of water frontage and no challenging topographical conditions. Sports complexes and FDR Park are near
the Navy Yard’s front gate, and the city’s arts, sports, and cultural attractions are easily accessible from the
property by car or SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority), the region’s public transit
provider.
The Navy Yard’s central location is highlighted by its direct access to I-95 and I-76, the region’s primary north–
south and east–west highways, respectively. The Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges connect south
Philadelphia to southern New Jersey. Amtrak’s 30th Street Station stands north of the property and the
Philadelphia International Airport lies due south. The Navy Yard is well served by public transportation, with
dedicated SEPTA shuttle service to the subway and access to the center city, the Philadelphia suburbs, and New
Jersey’s PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation) station. As of January 2009, the city of Philadelphia, SEPTA,
and PIDC are evaluating extending the subway system 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into the property.
Site amenities include the following: the aforementioned Building 543 on the Urban Outfitters campus, which
serves as the campus commons; the 90-seat Sautter’s Café; DiNic’s Roast Beef takeout; a putting green; a
planned two-mile (3.2-km) waterfront recreation trail; athletic fields; abundant free surface parking; landscaped
open spaces; and tree-lined boulevards.
North along Broad Street, just past the entry gate to the Navy Yard, lies the 300-acre (121.4-ha) FDR Park,
designed by Frederick Law Olmstead; it includes tennis courts, a golf course, and softball fields. Across the street
from FDR Park is the city’s major league stadium complex, home to four professional sports leagues. New housing
along Broad Street has replaced former navy barracks. There are many restaurants within a five-mile (8-km) drive
and major retail services nearby along Delaware and Oregon avenues.
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
As mentioned previously, the Philadelphia Navy Yard was decommissioned in 1996, continuing the trend of a
nationwide downsizing of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) properties. In March 2000, ownership of the Navy
Yard was transferred to PAID at a cost of $2 million. Since then, PIDC has been responsible for planning,
operations, and development, including infrastructure in most areas of the property. When PIDC acts as developer,
it generally solicits requests for proposals (RFPs) from local firms. To ensure upkeep of public open space, all
tenants pay a common-area maintenance fee.
In September 2004, PIDC and the city released the updated master plan. Initial efforts focus on business
development and job creation. With 5.5 million square feet (510,967 sq m) of occupied office space as of January
2009, and development opportunities for an additional 11 million square feet (1.02 million sq m), the Navy Yard
offers a range of building types from new construction to adaptive use of historic buildings. Significant support
from municipal, state, and federal agencies in the conceptual development of the master plan led by PIDC—and
including input from private developers—meant that regulatory issues were easily resolved and approvals
expeditiously granted. However, two major development opportunities remain—lifting deed restrictions on
residential development and extending mass transit to the site.
The office component began with the selection of Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners to develop the Navy
Yard Corporate Center. The team has exclusive development rights and is responsible for providing infrastructure.
As of winter 2009, the partnership has built 250,000 square feet (23,226 sq m) in three buildings: two speculative
multitenant structures—one of which will include the corporate headquarters for Tasty Baking Company—and one
build-to-suit building. In addition, the partnership has worked on projects in two of the Navy Yard’s other land use
areas. In the Shipyard, the partnership is developing the new Navy Yard Commerce Center as well as a 350,000-
square-foot (32,516-sq-m) baking and distribution center to be leased by Tasty Baking Company. The partnership
has also completed two properties in Research Park: a facility for AppTec Laboratory Services and the data center
for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
Active participants in the development process, Liberty Trust Property/Synterra Partners paid 40 percent of the
Navy Yard master plan’s $2 million price tag; PIDC paid the remainder. Liberty Trust Property/Synterra Partners
are committed to investing $250 million in 1.4 million square feet (130,064 sq m) of new space in the Corporate
Center over the next ten years.
The first corporation to undertake large-scale redevelopment at the Navy Yard, Urban Outfitters has served as a
catalyst for subsequent development. The site was transferred to UO by PIDC in December 2004 at no cost;
buildings were purchased for $1 each. Rehabilitation of 250,000 square feet (23,226 sq m) in five low-rise
industrial structures was completed in October 2006; development costs of $115 million, including $4 million for
infrastructure, were fully funded by UO and offset by a 20 percent federal historic preservation tax credit.
Another major stakeholder in the redevelopment process, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is the single largest private
landowner within the industrial area of the Navy Yard. It has become a magnet for development of related
businesses. In support of this activity, a $400 million investment was made with state and local funds for this
state-of-the-art complex. Aker employs approximately 1,300 workers in shipbuilding, has more than $2 billion in
current work, and, together with its network of suppliers, constructs 2.5 ships per year.
FINANCING, INCENTIVES, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
PIDC’s central strategy is to leverage financing and real estate resources to retain and grow employment
throughout the city. Its economic development programs offer a wide range of financing options and business
incentives for companies locating at the Navy Yard, including tax incentives, financing incentives/direct lending,
and workforce development.
The Navy Yard is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many structures dating from 1875. As a
result, federal investment historic tax credits up to 20 percent may be available for eligible building restoration
costs.
Philadelphia and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania have designated nearly all sections of development in the
Navy Yard as a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone (KOIZ). Qualified companies locating within KOIZ areas
are exempt from many state and municipal business taxes for up to 15 years (until 2018).
The city provides ten-year real estate tax abatements for new industrial and commercial construction, as well as
for improvements to deteriorated properties. The exemption is for the additional assessment attributable to the
improvement; it remains in effect for ten years, regardless of property sale or exchange.
The Navy Yard was also designated a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in
2005. The KIZ initiative promotes collaborative innovation among academic institutions, government research
entities, and private industry to leverage technology commercialization for job creation. Startup and spin-off
technology companies benefit from tax credits and other incentives to accelerate their time to market. This
collaboration supports the growth of technology firms in core navy research areas such as energy, advanced
manufacturing, communications, nanotechnology, homeland security, and life sciences. The Navy Yard KIZ
partners include Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, the navy, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the city
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania State University, and PIDC.
A KIZ company is eligible to receive up to $100,000 in tax credits. Firms must be located in the Navy Yard, be less
than eight years old, and focus on one or more KIZ technologies. As of winter 2009, the Navy Yard KIZ has
assisted more than 100 entrepreneurs, attracted seven startup technology companies, and advanced major Penn
State University research programs and commercialization initiatives. One of the main structures located in the
KIZ—and also in the Historic Core—is the Building 100 Innovation Center, a three-story, 30,000-square-foot
(2,787-sq-m) edifice that has been adapted for use as a technology incubator.
Research and development tax credits are issued by the commonwealth to assist the growth and development of
technology-oriented businesses, particularly small startup technology firms. Qualifying companies can sell unused
R&D tax credits on the open market to help advance and grow the business. On behalf of the municipal, state, and
federal governments, PIDC manages numerous loan programs with financing incentives and direct lending. Most of
these incentives offer subordinated financing and below-market interest rates. A specific fund, with favorable loan
terms, is available to prospective tenants.
The Collegiate Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development—a collaboration of five regional community
colleges and Drexel University—was funded upon closure of the Navy Shipyard and is located at the Navy Yard to
assist businesses with customized programs for workforce recruitment, training, retraining, retention, and skill
development. With 1.5 million residents in the city and more than 5 million in the region, Philadelphia is home to
numerous universities, technical schools, pharmaceutical companies, high-tech industries, and a highly skilled and
diverse labor pool.
PLANNING AND DESIGN
The master plan for the Navy Yard envisions economic growth through an expansion of existing industrial uses,
and a mixed-use community of office, residential, R&D, retail, and recreational uses. The historic street network
and a variety of public spaces define the five development areas, with the easternmost section reserved for future
expansion.
The main entry is located at the foot of the historic Broad Street axis. At this point, Broad Street continues south
and serves as a ceremonial, tree-lined boulevard that links the entrance to the historic center of the site. The
Historic Core is characterized by the UO campus and one mile (1.6 km) of river frontage, which will ultimately
connect to the proposed marina. The Shipyard is surrounded by waterways with docking facilities along the
Delaware River.
There are two entrances to the Navy Yard: Broad Street at the main gate and 26th Street, which serves the
Shipyard at the western end of the property. An extension to Delaware Avenue has been proposed as a third
entrance to provide access to the far eastern edge. Within the property, a new landscaped boulevard, placed at a
diagonal to the existing street grid, is planned to extend from the main gate to the waterfront, delineating the
Corporate Center and the Research Park. The Corporate Center has been established as a gateway serving these
new development sections, which are fundamentally suburban in character.
As mentioned previously, the easternmost end of the property is reserved for future development. A proposed
public marina of 250 slips surrounded by offices or housing would serve as the focal point for development at the
termination of the new diagonal boulevard. The easternmost area, beyond the marina, has been set aside for big-
box development, distribution facilities for the adjacent Port of Philadelphia, various recreational uses, and/or
expansion of existing businesses.
CONSTRUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
PIDC is generally responsible for providing infrastructure throughout the Navy Yard, having completed $90 million
worth of new streets, utilities, parks, and landscaping during 2008. Working with the Philadelphia Water
Department’s watersheds initiative, the Navy Yard is launching a pilot program using innovative stormwater
management systems in the construction of several new roads. A campuswide recycling plan is in the planning
stage as of January 2009.
Other infrastructure was provided by individual developers: Liberty Property Trust/Synterra Partners furnishes all
infrastructure in the Corporate Center; Urban Outfitters included infrastructure improvements in its campus plan;
and in some portions, infrastructure is negotiated. Each developer works with its own construction management
team.
According to the 2004 master plan, sustainability is incorporated into all aspects of planning, development, and
operations. Open space and green buildings, together with innovative best management practices for site
operations, are integral to the overall plan. Comprising a variety of open spaces, including formal parks, active
recreation areas, and waterfront trails, the Navy Yard offers diverse recreational options. Crescent Park was
completed in 2005; in 2009, PIDC will finish up a second major park—League Island Park—that will utilize
sustainable stormwater management practices and wetland features. At buildout, the Navy Yard will contain over
50 acres (20.2 ha) of open space and a two-mile (3.2-km) waterfront trail.
In 2008, PIDC and the city of Philadelphia announced the development of a solar energy center. The facility will
generate approximately 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy and solar renewable energy credits on an annual
basis for 20 years. This project will be one of the largest solar photovoltaic installations on the East Coast. The 1.4-
megawatt solar energy center, located on a seven-acre (2.8-ha) former landfill in the Girard Point Industrial area,
will include more than 5,000 photovoltaic panels.
PIDC recommends that new construction meet LEED certification. All office space developed by Liberty Property
Trust/Synterra Partners will be LEED certified. Exceeding these expectations, the partnership developed One
Crescent Drive, the LEED Platinum Class A office building of 76,000 square feet (7,061 sq m) mentioned
previously. In addition to LEED-certified office buildings, many historic renovations have incorporated sustainable
features. The Urban Outfitters Corporate Headquarters Campus went beyond the suggested sustainable
development goals of the 2004 Master Plan: bioswales collect and filter stormwater runoff and help mitigate solar
heat gain; minimal surface parking limits the amount of impervious cover; concrete and asphalt from old parking
lots were used as landscaping fill; and material from original structures was reused. For example, large timber
used to support a mezzanine in one building was dismantled and reused for stair trends and walls. Within the
restored historic structures, pipe-bending pits now serve as ponds where water lilies grow and koi swim.
MARKETING, MANAGEMENT, AND TENANTS
Once the property was transferred, PIDC began marketing development opportunities. Marketing materials were
prepared for each development section. Networking events designed for executives are held periodically along with
other events pertinent to the various industries in the region. A video that chronicles the planning process is used
to promote development opportunities. A quarterly newsletter announces new tenants and describes updated
development projects.
PIDC also works closely with the brokerage community to market the site. Cushman & Wakefield, one of the
country’s largest privately held real estate services firms, manages all PIDC properties at the Navy Yard.
PERFORMANCE
As of winter 2009 redevelopment is ahead of expectations, with a number of well-known Philadelphia companies—
including Urban Outfitters, Tasty Baking Company, and Mothers Work Inc.— relocating to the Navy Yard. While
many firms were located on the property before Urban Outfitters, it was the main catalyst attracting other
businesses to the site. Particularly noteworthy is UO’s renovation of Building 543 as the campus commons, which
benefits everyone on site.
PIDC has managed to guide the development of a wide range of land uses and balance the potentially competing
demands of physical planning and job generation. Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, believes that the viability of
the mixed-use center would be enhanced by increased density, particularly in regard to for-sale housing. To this
end, the consultant has encouraged PIDC to advocate overturning deed restrictions on residential development and
extending mass transit to the site. Added economic development would justify the cost of subway construction.
Existing parking areas could serve as future development sites, if demand calls for increased urbanization.
EXPERIENCE GAINED
The size and location of the Navy Yard offer a significant opportunity to develop an important regional center. Once
residential development is added, the property will house all the components of a new city.
The impact of offering innovative incentives, such as the KIZ, is evident in the number of small technology firms
locating at the Navy Yard. New companies can take advantage of financing and incentives offered by PIDC. In
addition, the navy is a potential client for the innovations developed in collaboration with universities, government
entities, and other technology businesses. As a result, companies have expanded rapidly and the number of jobs
has continually increased.
Providing infrastructure is key to enticing new development and renovation. It also allows PIDC to control the pace
and phasing of development.
As of January 2009, PIDC is working to bring much-needed mass transit and housing to ensure the project’s
success as a true mixed-use center. Adding these components will define the project as an urban development in a
suburban location.
PROJECT DATA
LAND USE INFORMATION
Site area (acres/hectares): 1,200/485.6
LAND USE PLAN
Use Area (Square Feet/Square Meters) Percentage of Site
Buildings 200/80.9 18
Streets/surface parking 800/323.8 64
Landscaping/open space 200/80.9 18
Total 1,200/485.6 100
GROSS BUILDING AREA
Use Currently Occupied Area (Gross Square Feet/Square Meters)
Occupied at Buildout (Gross Square Feet/Square Meters)
Offce 1,400,000/130,064.3 6,500,000/603,869.8
Retail 100,000/9,290.3 500,000/46,451.5
Industrial 3,300,000/306,580.0 5,000,000/464,515.0
Research and devleopment 745,000/69,212.8 2,500,000/232,257.6
Residential 0/0 2,000,000/185,806.0
Total 5,545,000/515,147.4 16,500,000/1,532,900.0
OFFICE INFORMATION
Average tenant size
(square feet/square meters) 12,000/1,114.8
Average annual rent
(per square foot/per square meters) $15–$25/$161.46–$269.10
Average length of lease 5–10 years
Typical lease terms Triple net
RETAIL INFORMATION
Tenant Classification Number of Stores
Total Gross Leasable Area
(Square Feet/Square Meters)
Food service 3 95,000/8,825.8
Financial 1 5,000/464.5
DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
Property decommissioned under BRAC: 1996
Ownership transferred to PAID: March 2000
Development responsibility given to PIDC: March 2000 The Navy Yard Master Plan completed: September 2004
Project completion: 2020–2030
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From Philadelphia International Airport: Merge onto Interstate 95 heading north. After four miles (6.4 km), take
exit 17 onto State Highway 611/Broad Street. Make a U-turn at Pattison Avenue, staying on Broad Street but
heading in the opposite direction. Cross under I-95. Take a right at Langley Avenue. PIDC’s headquarters will be
on the right at 1413 Langley Avenue.
Driving time from Philadelphia International Airport: Five minutes in nonpeak traffic.
Nancy Zivitz Sussman, report author
Jason Scully, editor, Development Case Studies
David James Rose, copy editor
Colleen DiPietro and Jamie McAfee, online production
Ted Thoerig, editorial associate
This Development Case Study is intended to serve as a resource for subscribers in improving the quality of future projects. Data
contained herein were made available by the project’s development team and constitute a report on, not an endorsement of, the
project by ULI–the Urban Land Institute.
Copyright © 2009 by ULI–the Urban Land Institute
1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W., Suite 500 West, Washington, D.C. 20007-5201
Decommissioned in 1996, the 1,200-acre (486-ha) Philadelphia Navy Yard is the site of an expected $2 billion redevelopment effort overseen by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.
Urban Outfitters—the anchor tenant for the Historic Core with its 11-acre (4-5-ha), five-building campus—serves as a catalyst for historic renovation and adaptive use at the Navy Yard.
Located three miles (4.8 km) south of the center city, the former naval base will feature
approximately 15 million square feet (1.4 million sq m) of developed space and support more than 20,000 employees at buildout.
Based on a 2004 master plan designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the Navy Yard is divided into five development areas—the Shipyard, the Historic Core, the Corporate Center, the Research Park, and an area set aside for future development.
A combination of adaptive use and new construction, the Philadelphia Navy Yard as of January 2009
has over 7,500 workers and tenants include Urban Outfitters, the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Barthco International, Tasty Baking Company, and the U.S. Navy.
