Jackie Headshot

Meet the Team: Jackie Hall

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Be the change. Make a difference. Do something. These are all words that resonate with Jackie Hall, who is PIDC’s newest Navy Yard staff member as the Navy Yard Community Engagement Coordinator. PIDC aligns with her idea of making an impact in the community and helping with initiative to drive growth in our beautiful city. In this role, Jackie is responsible to help create a sense of place and purpose for the entire Navy Yard community, from employees to visitors by developing programming for a variety of partners both internal and external to the Navy Yard.

Previously, Jackie was the Faculty Affairs Coordinator and Administrative Coordinator for the Department of Radiation Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She worked alongside the Chief of Staff with communications and event planning as well as sit on several committees to promote engagement throughout the department.

Jackie is an avid distance runner. She just completed her 2nd marathon here in Philadelphia this past November. When she is not working, you can find her in Mt. Airy running through the neighborhood or in the Wissahickon trails.

Feel free to contact me at jhall@pidcphila.com

 

WuXi ATU Grand Opening

WuXi ATU Opens New Facility in Philadelphia, Tripling Testing Capacity to Support Global Customers

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WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU), a wholly owned subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, announced the official opening of its advanced therapies testing facility at 400 Rouse Boulevard in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. The new facility, which includes 140,000 square feet laboratories, will further enhance the company’s Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO) business model by tripling the company’s previous testing capacity, meeting the increasing needs of customers in cell and gene therapy industry.

The new state-of the-art facility is an expansion of WuXi ATU’s existing Navy Yard Campus, which opened in 2020. This addition will strengthen the existing analytical development and testing capacity and capability.

“WuXi ATU has significant expertise in assay development, biologics safety testing, viral clearance and commercial lot release assays, and we are proud to bring that knowledge to our customers,” said Dr. David Chang, Chief Executive Officer of WuXi ATU. “We are committed to enabling these partners to bring ground-breaking therapeutics to patients as quickly, reliably and consistently as possible.”

“WuXi ATU has always been at the forefront of innovation in Philadelphia,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “We are thrilled to celebrate their continued expansion and growth with the opening of the new advanced therapies testing facility at the Navy Yard.”

As a CTDMO with operations globally, WuXi ATU’s unique business model integrates powerful testing capabilities with its advanced therapies’ process development and manufacturing platforms, such as TESSA technology for AAV manufacturing and XLenti stable solutions for lentiviral manufacturing. This allows all assay development, biosafety, viral clearance and product release testing to be completed in-house, shortening customers’ timelines for the approval of advanced therapies. WuXi ATU has supported more than 1,700 customer submissions for biosafety testing through industry-leading testing and analytical assay development experience, enabling the delivery of more effective and accessible advanced therapies to patients.

 

About WuXi Advanced Therapies (WuXi ATU)

As the advanced therapies business unit of WuXi AppTec, WuXi Advanced Therapies is a Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO) that offers integrated platforms to transform the discovery, development, testing, manufacturing, and commercialization of cell and gene therapies. Our services and solutions accelerate time to market and support customer programs around the world. For more information, please visit www.advancedtherapies.com.

About WuXi AppTec

As a global company with operations across Asia, Europe, and North America, WuXi AppTec provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable global pharmaceutical and healthcare industry to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients. Through its unique business models, WuXi AppTec’s integrated, end-to-end services include chemistry drug CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization), biology discovery, preclinical testing and clinical research services, cell and gene therapies CTDMO (Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization), helping customers improve the productivity of advancing healthcare products through cost-effective and efficient solutions. WuXi AppTec received AA ESG rating from MSCI in 2021 and its open-access platform is enabling more than 5,600 collaborators from over 30 countries to improve the health of those in need – and to realize the vision that “every drug can be made and every disease can be treated.” Please visit: http://www.wuxiapptec.com

Media Contact:
Davy Wu
mediainquiries@wuxiapptec.com

Customer Contact:
Min Park
+1 (215) 218-5500
atu.info@wuxiapptec.com

PIDC welcomes the Dominion Energy team on Nov 1!

Navy Yard Electric Utility Transitions Operations to Dominion Energy

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Today Dominion Energy takes over the 10-year electric utility Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services contract for the Navy Yard. This contract was the culmination of a lengthy, highly competitive solicitation process announced in May 2021. Dominion Energy will provide responsive on-site management to the Navy Yard and its customers, who will gain industry-leading service reliability, financial performance, innovation, responsiveness, and service reliability to support effective response to routine, urgent, and emergency service needs and interruptions.

PIDC welcomes the Dominion Energy team on Nov 1!

The Dominion team will provide excellent service to existing and future Navy Yard businesses and customers, and will allow for the next phase of real estate development to grow and flourish.  Meet the two on-site team members and say hello if you see them around campus!

Jeremy Rigau, Dominion Energy, Manager Base Privatization

Name: Jeremy Rigau
Title: Manager, Base Privatization
Years at Dominion Energy: 13 years
One thing they are most looking forward to at the Navy Yard: Jeremy can’t wait to bring his family to the Navy Yard to see a movie at the PFS Drive-in. As a Philadelphia transplant, he is looking forward to taking his family to see and experience all the history and culture that Philadelphia has to offer.

Michael “MJ” Jones, Dominion Energy, Base Design Project Coordinator

Name: Michael ‘MJ’ Jones
Title: Base Design Project Coordinator
Years at Dominion Energy: 16 years
One thing they are most looking forward to at the Navy Yard: Going to a Sixers game after work!

Since the announcement, Dominion’s team has worked closely with the operations team from DTE on a comprehensive transition to ensure a seamless handoff today. PIDC and the Navy Yard team are grateful to DTE for many years of excellent service and assistance during the transition period.

Since the military base closed and was transferred to PIDC’s leadership in 2000, the Navy Yard’s electric utility system has grown to accommodate more customers and has become more sophisticated. It is a large, independently operated unregulated energy grid, and since 2010, more than $35 million in upgrades have been performed and new capacity added, including the addition of a peaking plant, a battery storage plant, and Pennsylvania’s first community solar project.

The Navy Yard continues to grow as a premiere location for businesses and employees in Philadelphia. The next phase of development will solidify the Navy Yard’s place as a leader in business, manufacturing, R&D, and life sciences and will include the creation of a vibrant mixed-use district including retail, makerspace, and – for the first time since the base closure – residential development. With this next phase of commercial and residential development, the Navy Yard is expected to add an additional 5.4 million square feet of space at full build-out over the next 15 to 20 years and plans to grow from its peak demand of 33 megawatts serving 105 accounts and 120 facilities to 55 megawatts. Additionally, Dominion Energy will also ensure future energy needs are met as new capacity is added to the private grid.

Dominion Energy offers comprehensive O&M and business management expertise backed by 100+ years’ experience as one of the nation’s largest regulated utility companies, serving more than 3.2 million electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Dominion Energy also extends 15 years of experience in owning, operating, and maintaining privatized, non-regulated systems on critical installations (similar to the Navy Yard) in South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Sumit Verna, Iovance iCTC site head, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. He is joined by Fred Vogt, Iovance CEO, Governor Tom Wolf, and Mayor Jim Kenney.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Celebrates Grand Opening of Iovance Cell Therapy Center (iCTC)

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Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel T cell-based cancer immunotherapies (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, TIL, and peripheral-blood lymphocyte, PBL), is celebrating the official opening of the Iovance Cell Therapy Center (iCTC). The iCTC, located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, is the first centralized, scalable, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated to producing TIL cell therapies for patients with solid tumor cancers. The current capacity is expected to meet potential demand for thousands of patients per year with multiple types of cancers, including clinical trial patients and future commercial patients.

Frederick Vogt, Ph.D., J.D., Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Iovance, stated, “Since Iovance was founded, we have been dedicated to advancing novel cell therapies for patients with solid tumor cancers. As the hub of cell and gene therapy and the home of leading hospitals and academic centers, Philadelphia became the city of choice for our internal manufacturing. A little over two years after breaking ground, iCTC is now one of the largest cell therapy manufacturing facilities in the world and may ultimately house hundreds of employees. We now have the capacity to supply broad access to TIL therapies for patients. I believe that the important ecosystem within Cellicon Valley will continue to contribute to our advancements to pioneer a new class of treatment for cancer.”

A ribbon cutting event celebrates the opening with special guests including Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, and other government officials and collaborators within Cellicon Valley. Patients, caregivers, and patient advocacy organizations, including Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) and the Society for Gynecological Oncology’s Foundation for Women’s Cancer cut the ribbon on behalf of everyone who is currently fighting cancer, and in memory of those who lost their battles with cancer.

Sumit Verna, Iovance iCTC site head, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. He is joined by Fred Vogt, Iovance CEO, Governor Tom Wolf, and Mayor Jim Kenney.

“The iCTC is a symbol of significant innovation and opportunity for the commonwealth as hundreds of new, high-paying jobs will ultimately be created at this facility,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “Iovance has already made a positive impact on the region and worked with a great sense of urgency to complete construction and begin initial manufacturing for patients with cancer.”

“The iCTC represents a new model in cell therapy manufacturing and bolsters Philadelphia’s reputation as a leading location for technology, innovation, and life sciences,” said City of Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Iovance is a great example of what companies from around the country and the world may accomplish in establishing Philadelphia as the place to attract talent and grow their business.”

Located at 300 Rouse Boulevard and with approximately 136,000 square feet of space, the iCTC is among the largest cell therapy manufacturing facilities today. The iCTC is currently supplying Iovance clinical studies, and commercial manufacturing is expected to begin after initial product approval. The iCTC was developed and built by Gattuso Development Partners, LLC and the design and construction management firm CRB. Financial incentives were provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia, and PIDC, including the site’s designation as a Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone, which allows incentives for business development.

About Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Iovance Biotherapeutics aims to improve patient care by making T cell-based immunotherapies broadly accessible for the treatment of patients with solid tumors and blood cancers. Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy uses a patient’s own immune cells to attack cancer. TIL cells are extracted from a patient’s own tumor tissue, expanded through a proprietary process, and infused back into the patient. Upon infusion, TIL reach tumor tissue, where they attack cancer cells. The company has completed dosing in pivotal programs in patients with metastatic melanoma and cervical cancer. In addition, the company’s TIL therapy is being investigated in a registration-supporting study for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Clinical studies are also underway to evaluate TIL in earlier stage cancers in combination with currently approved treatments, and to investigate Iovance peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) T cell therapy for blood cancers. For more information, please visit www.iovance.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” of Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). All such written or oral statements made in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the PSLRA. Without limiting the foregoing, we may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and include, but are not limited to, the following substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties inherent in our business: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to the timing of and our ability to successfully develop, submit, obtain and maintain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect to, our product candidates, and our ability to successfully commercialize any product candidates for which we obtain FDA approval; preliminary and interim clinical results, which may include efficacy and safety results, from ongoing clinical trials or cohorts may not be reflected in the final analyses of our ongoing clinical trials or subgroups within these trials or in other prior trials or cohorts; the risk that enrollment may need to be adjusted for our trials and cohorts within those trials based on FDA and other regulatory agency input; the new version of the protocol which further defines the patient population to include more advanced patients in our cervical cancer trial may have an adverse effect on the results reported to date; the risk that we may be required to conduct additional clinical trials or modify ongoing or future clinical trials based on feedback from the FDA or other regulatory authorities; the risk that our interpretation of the results of our clinical trials or communications with the FDA may differ from the interpretation of such results or communications by the FDA; the acceptance by the market of our product candidates and their potential reimbursement by payors, if approved; our ability or inability to manufacture our therapies using third party manufacturers or our own facility may adversely affect our potential commercial launch; the results of clinical trials with collaborators using different manufacturing processes may not be reflected in our sponsored trials; the risk that unanticipated expenses may decrease our estimated cash balances and forecasts and increase our estimated capital requirements; and other factors, including general economic conditions and regulatory developments, not within our control.

CONTACTS

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc:
Sara Pellegrino, IRC
Vice President, Investor Relations & Public Relations
650-260-7120 ext. 264
Sara.Pellegrino@iovance.com

Solebury Trout:
Zara Lockshin
646.378.2960
zlockshin@soleburytrout.com

Tour of the Philly Shipyard, Inc. facilities in front of the iconic goliath crane [photo by Ben Bowens Photography]

Philly Shipyard Hires 13 PIDC Workforce Development Program Graduates

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PIDC and University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is thrilled to announce that we graduated and placed 14 program participants from our second Navy Yard Workforce Development Initiatives training program today!  These participants completed the three-week Shipyard Laborer Program in partnership with Philly Shipyard Inc. and 13 were extended a job offer for full-time permanent employment in the government and commercial shipbuilding industry starting at $14.00/hour.

Shipyard Laborer Program Graduates

We partnered with Navy Yard company Philly Shipyard, Inc., a leading U.S. shipbuilder presently pursuing a mix of commercial and government work, ranging from shipbuilding to repair and maintenance, who had a large hiring need due to National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) contracts. Over 220 applications were submitted, more than 100 applicants were invited to interview, and just 17 people were accepted into the program. With the placement of 14 participants, the job placement rate for this program is 93%!

Classroom session at Penn State at the Navy Yard [photo by Ben Bowens Photography]

The Shipyard Laborer Program is designed to connect participants to the professional and technical training, tools, and supports needed to build a meaningful career at Philly Shipyard. This three-week program included 37+ hours of in-person training and coaching using the classroom space at Penn State at the Navy Yard, 10 hours of safety training to earn an OSHA-10 certification, 4 hours of basic life support and CPR training, and one worksite visit touring the Philly Shipyard campus and meeting with the staff. 

Tour of the Philly Shipyard, Inc. facilities in front of the iconic goliath crane [photo by Ben Bowens Photography]

This program the second of four collaborative professional development training programs managed by West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) and PIDC’s Navy Yard Workforce Development Initiatives (NYWDI) to train Philadelphia residents for permanent, full-time, quality-wage careers at the Navy Yard. We are looking forward to many more successful programs connecting Philadelphians to life changing careers. 

Tour of the Philly Shipyard, Inc. facilities [photo by Ben Bowens Photography]

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Ensemble/Mosaic Announces Plans for Chapel Block, the First Residential Development at the Navy Yard Since the 1996 Base Closure

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Ensemble/Mosaic today announced plans to develop the first residential complex to be built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard as part of its agreement with PIDC. The company plans to break ground on the project in 2022 and open the complex in 2024.

“Ensemble/Mosaic is on the cusp of reaching a longstanding, identity-shifting objective – to evolve the Navy Yard into a fully functioning Philadelphia neighborhood,” said Brian Cohen, Senior Vice President, Ensemble. “We are incredibly excited at the prospect of creating a vibrant and diverse residential community so people may further enjoy this unique location and all it has to offer.”

Located at 1200 Normandy Place, the complex, called Chapel Block, will include a seven-story building and two connected six-story buildings. In total, it will offer 611 luxury and mixed-income apartments offering 40 different unit sizes and bedroom configurations, and options for furnished and unfurnished units.

It will also include 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor resident amenity space and 26,000 square feet of space for restaurants and retail. All three buildings are designed to meet a minimum of LEED® Silver certification from the United States Green Building Council, providing for a sustainable and healthy living experience.

Design Informed by the Pandemic

“The pandemic was foremost in our thinking as we developed this project, keeping in mind the new realities of how people work, value outdoor access and are concerned about indoor ventilation,” said Leslie Smallwood-Lewis, Founder and Owner, Mosaic. “Home should be every resident’s ‘safe place,’ and our goal has been to incorporate as much as we can of what we have learned in the last 18 months so that residents will be comfortable and secure in their homes here.”

Some of the steps the team has taken include:

  • A significant number of units will include areas to accommodate working from home, with separate offices or built-in work areas.
  • Proximity to three parks: five-acre Central Green with a running track, outdoor table tennis, bocce, cross-fit station, amphitheater, and picnic areas; three-acre League Island Park, a natural and serene park for lounging and working; and eight-acre Marine Parade Grounds, a historic public space that provides fields for sport leagues, food trucks, and large outdoor events.
  • LEED certification with an emphasis on a healthy living environment with high indoor air quality.
  • Expanded building amenity offerings and areas to work from outside of apartments.

Chapel Block: A Community of Three Buildings, Dozens of Options

Chapel Block takes its name from the historic Chapel constructed by the Navy in 1942 on the southeast corner of the block to be developed.  The chapel is now occupied by the Chapel of the Four Chaplains and Memorial Foundation, dedicated to promoting interfaith cooperation and selfless service of individuals and organizations. It honors the moving story of four chaplains who died while saving many lives when The Dorchester, a U.S. Army transport ship (USAT), was sunk in the waters of Newfoundland during World War Two.

“One of the most interesting aspects of developing in the Navy Yard is that we are surrounded by critical U.S. history on a daily basis,” said Cohen. “This is a place filled with stories of bravery and heroism. It is an inspiring location and one we love to share with residents, employees and visitors.”

The seven-story building will be developed on the north end of the Chapel Block site in partnership with Korman Communities under their exciting residential real estate brand, “AVE.”

AVE Navy Yard will feature 265 luxury units, a portion of which will be reserved as flexible-stay, fully furnished apartments offered on a monthly basis for individuals who need a temporary living option. On-demand amenities will include a resort pool, media theatre, fire pit lounge, grilling stations, executive meeting spaces, a golf simulator, music studio, and pet spa.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ensemble/Mosaic on this exciting project,” said Bradley J. Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities. “Philadelphia is our home, and we are honored to be a part of this incredible opportunity to develop what will become one of the most desirable locations to live, work, and play in the region.”

On the south end of Chapel Block, the two six-story buildings will form a mixed-income project containing 346 market rate and affordable units.  It is designed as two separate structures and will be connected on the ground floor by shared amenities including a fitness center, business center, lounge areas, a game area, a party room with gourmet kitchen, pet spa, and bike storage.  The connected buildings are situated around a private courtyard with lounge seating fire pits and grill stations.

“Chapel Block will change the Navy Yard in many exciting ways. This addition of new  mixed-income residential for the first time since the naval base was closed over two decades ago will serve not only the employees and visitors of the Navy Yard, but everyone who lives on site, too,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard.

The complex is designed by a partnership of two architectural firms, Philadelphia-based DIGSAU, the design architect, which has designed several buildings in the Navy Yard, and Moody Nolan, the architect of record, headquartered in Columbus, OH. Moody Nolan is the 2021 AIA Firm of the Year and the largest minority owned architecture firm in the country.

“Two exceptional architectural firms have banded together to bring us a design that will change the Navy Yard for decades by creating residential opportunities for people from all walks of life,” said Smallwood-Lewis. “We are excited that they have brought opportunity to many smaller and specialty firms, as more than 50% of the design work is being done by 15 different MBE/WBE-certified firms in Philadelphia and around the country.”

Through its development agreement with PIDC, Ensemble/Mosaic will redevelop 109 acres of land through renovation and ground-up construction, including Chapel Block. The developer will invest $2.6B – with all funds fully committed to ESG (environmental, social and governance) – over the next two decades, of which $1B has been commitment to DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion.)

After the naval base closure in 1996, the City of Philadelphia, PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the Navy Yard, and its partners envisioned the redevelopment of the space into a thriving mixed-use campus, restoring it as an economic engine for the city. Over the last two decades, the Navy Yard has attracted 170 businesses employing more than 15,000 personnel.

Ensemble/Mosaic is working with PIDC and the U.S. Navy to complete the technical steps necessary to lift the residential deed restriction on this parcel.

“We thank our partners at the Navy for working with us to on this new development, which will further the Navy Yard’s position as one of Philadelphia’s most unique business campuses and evolving neighborhoods,” added McNamara.

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The Navy Yard Releases New Navy Yard Transit App!

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PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard announces the launch of its new app called Navy Yard Transit to offer Navy Yard employees and visitors an easy and reliable trip planning app that includes real-time arrival information on many public and shared transportation services, including its own Navy Yard shuttle system with routes from the Navy Yard to NRG Subway Station and to Center City.

PIDC has partnered with Moovit, a global leader in mobility solutions, to launch Navy Yard Transit, which aggregates many mobility options in one app, making it simple to compare alternative transit and even offers a multi-modal approach: public transit, shuttles, and bikeshare, or a trip plan that may combine two or more methods of transit. This will allow for users to conveniently plan a trip and reduce reliance on private cars, resulting in less congestion and environmental impacts.

Navy Yard Transit is available as an iOS, Android, and Web app, combining official information from local transit agencies including SEPTA and PATCO, as well as crowdsourced information to calculate the best route for each journey with urban mobility options like the bus, train, light rail, subway, shuttle, shared bikes such as Indego and BCycle, car-sharing such as Zipcar, Uber and Lyft. Navy Yard Transit also provides real-time arrival information, so users know exactly when their bus or shuttle is arriving, a Live Directions feature with “Get Off Alerts” to provide step-by-step guidance for the entire journey, and Service Alerts so they can avoid disruptions and plan their journey accordingly.

This new Navy Yard Transit app replaces the previous app and focuses on the Navy Yard shuttles’ real-time arrival information allowing users to enjoy a more predictable and reliable journey to and from the Navy Yard. The app provides improved information on departure and arrival times, including real-time arrival countdowns, so riders can more efficiently plan their trips, have more insight on their journey while on the go. Riders can “favorite” their frequently used routes and receive push notifications about major traffic delays or winter service notifications.

Navy Yard Transit empowers people with disabilities to use public transportation with more assurance. The app incorporates accessibility features, including:

  • Screen reading features for low vision users (including TalkBack/VoiceOver capabilities)
  • Wheelchair-accessible routes and stations identified
  • Step-free routes calculated
  • Designed with optimized menus and buttons for people with hand-motor disabilities

The Navy Yard app is available to download on for Apple devices on the App Store or for Android devices on Google Play for free.

For questions or feedback, please contact navyyard@cbre.com.

 

bess-switch-flip

Michael Kennedy Dedicates Battery Storage Project at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

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Citizens Energy Vice President Michael Kennedy today flipped the switch on a 6.4-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide power cost savings to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and beyond through green energy technology.

The nephew of Citizens Energy Chairman, and former Massachusetts Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, was joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and PIDC leadership in dedicating the innovative project at the Navy Yard. The 1,200-acre former military base has been redeveloped into a thriving mixed-use campus led by PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the historic shipyard.

“Everyone at Citizens Energy is proud to be helping Philadelphia transition to a greener future with Battery Storage Technology,” said Kennedy, who heads up new business development for the Boston-based nonprofit. “This system will be the largest of its kind in the city, and allow the Philadelphia Navy Yard to make better use of renewable energy as well as save money for local business and residents.”

The 2,240-lithium ion battery system housed in the industrial portion of the campus will provide a cheaper source of energy for the business tenants of the Navy Yard through peak shaving technology when the demand and cost of power is highest throughout the day. At times when the price of energy is stable locally, the BESS will participate in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection’s frequency regulation market to regulate power on the regional grid.

“Completion of this project by Citizens Energy and PIDC is a great achievement for our City and the Navy Yard,” stated Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Philadelphia continues to be innovative by introducing new systems like this battery energy storage system which not only improves the quality of life for residents and businesses, but uses energy more efficiently, reduces our carbon footprint, and helps Philadelphia reach our clean energy vision goals.”

“PIDC is thrilled to partner with Citizens Energy to bring this battery storage to the Navy Yard,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “Not only does this battery energy storage system provide a reliable, cost-effective, innovative solution for ongoing energy requirements, but it is a great foundation to support significant future job growth as businesses continue to locate and grow within Philadelphia and at the Navy Yard.”

“We have an enormous responsibility to our community and to our planet to not only make clean choices, but to ensure those choices are available to everyone,” said former Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II, who founded Citizens Energy Corporation over 40 years ago to make life’s basic needs more affordable. “This project not only reduces the cost of electricity for the Navy Yard, but also plays a key role in our fight against climate change.”

The 14.8-megwatt hour system represents a cutting-edge partnership between nonprofits that will usher in a new era of energy infrastructure at the landmark site. Battery storage technology is imperative to ensuring the success of the renewable energy revolution because it has the capacity to make green power available for future use. Facilities connected to battery storage technology will have uninterrupted use of power during major local outages and facilitate resilient buildings and microgrids.

Built next door to a retired steam plant, the Navy Yard BESS is the latest project to join an array of Navy Yard innovative and sustainable technologies and drives Philadelphia towards a cleaner and greener future. The BESS also joins the ranks of industrial and shipbuilding companies, cell and gene therapy production facilities, and global businesses at the historic campus, all powered by one of the East Coast’s largest unregulated electric grids.

This is Citizens Energy’s second completed BESS, having just unveiled its first in Western Massachusetts. The Boston-based nonprofit will soon complete several microgrid projects in other parts of New England and currently has over 40 solar projects in its national portfolio.

Redevelopment of historic Building 624: Historic Core pedestrian plaza flanked by artisan makerspaces for authentic local retail. Credit: Grgoundswell

Ensemble/Mosaic Launches a Bold, Systemic $2.6B Environmental, Social & Governance Commitment at the Navy Yard

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Partnership has Committed $7.5 Million to 21 Certified Minority and Women, Design & Engineering Firms to Lift Off $1B Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pledge

Ensemble Real Estate Investments and Mosaic Development Partners (Ensemble/Mosaic) today announced it has launched its ambitious Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) program at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the bedrock of its plan to develop 109 acres of the campus.

“We believe our $2.6B ESG initiative to be one of the most significant commitments by any developer for any development in our country,” said Kam Babaoff, Co-Founder and Chairman of Ensemble Real Estate Solutions & Investments. “And, as part of this ambitious plan, we are committing $1B to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives – again, likely the largest pledge ever in our industry. Dedication to ESG, and specifically the DEI principals within it, will drive lasting positive change in this city because it will be built by Philadelphians for Philadelphians.”

PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the Navy Yard, and Ensemble/Mosaic are partnering on the 2022 Philadelphia Navy Yard Plan Update. Ensemble/Mosaic will invest the $2.6 billion of development in the 1200-acre campus over the next two decades. The venture anticipates breaking ground on its first buildings – among them 1201 Normandy Place – in the fourth quarter of 2021.

A cornerstone of this ESG program is the partnership’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy.

“PIDC set the tone for DEI in their request for proposal, and we felt inspired to create a plan with great scope and depth,” said Leslie Smallwood-Lewis, Principal of Mosaic, a minority-owned business enterprise. “Our DEI commitment will provide meaningful equity and capacity-building contracting opportunities for minority, women, veteran and disabled-owned business enterprises (MWVDBE) over the next two decades and we are excited to help create lasting change.”

Ensemble/Mosaic began deploying this strategy in the initial phase of development through the hiring of 20 local and national MWVDBE design and engineering firms such as Moody Nolan – the largest African American architecture firm in the nation and the “2021 AIA Firm of the Year”, Kelly Maiello and Rodriguez Consulting. Those commitments, representing approximately 50% ($7.5M) of the total allocation for design, have been made since the partnership was awarded the development rights by PIDC less than four months ago.

ESG Criteria as the North Star

ESG is a set of criteria created by an organization to guide socially responsible decisions. It includes environmental sustainability, such as impact on climate change or carbon footprint, recycling and water management; social impact through diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and organizational values; and governance, including partnership diversity, the auditing of DEI initiatives and  representation on boards and committees.

“From the moment we committed to answering the request for proposal from PIDC, ESG has been our north star,” said Greg Reaves, Principal of Mosaic. “Every decision we make, from design to development to neighborhood creation is through the lens of our ESG strategy.”

After the naval base closure in 1996, the City of Philadelphia, PIDC and its partners envisioned the redevelopment of the space into a thriving mixed-use campus, restoring it as an economic engine for the city. Over the last two decades, the Navy Yard has successfully attracted 150 businesses employing more than 15,000 personnel to the site with new development planned to further its position as one of Philadelphia’s most unique business campuses and evolving neighborhoods.

Through its development agreement with PIDC, Ensemble/Mosaic will redevelop 109 acres  of land through renovation and ground-up construction. The 20-year project includes the creation of additional office, laboratories and clean spaces, retail, restaurants and hotels, and residential buildings, parks, greenways and amenities.

“The Navy Yard has reestablished itself as a successful platform for job creation with a focus on innovation, production, and sustainability, and I commend PIDC and Ensemble/Mosaic on their shared vision and alignment of goals, which will further spur equitable growth in Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “This unparalleled commitment to ESG sets the new standard for socially responsible, inclusive development in Philadelphia while providing countless benefits for Philadelphians for years to come.”

Bringing Meaningful, Measurable Change

Ensemble and Mosaic formed a partnership with the objective of focusing on redeveloping the Navy Yard by creating opportunities for diverse participants in every aspect of development.

To illustrate, Babaoff and Reaves broke down some of the many ESG-focused programs in motion or development, with a particular focus on DEI, such as:

  • Minority, Women, Veteran and Disabled-Owned Businesses Enterprises will equitably participate in every phase of the development cycle (design, construction and operations) at some of the highest levels ever achieved for a project of this size and scale. (See chart)
  • Minority Equity Investment ensures up-to-20% of the equity investment will be provided by minorities and minority-owned firms.
  • A Community Investment Platform will offer the opportunity for local low-and-moderate-income individuals to invest, through crowdfunding, collectively up to 5% of the equity in each project.
  • A Charitable Foundation, initially funded by a $1M commitment by Ensemble/Mosaic with continued funding from a percentage of the project’s net cash flow, will actively support and promote the development and economic empowerment of minorities and women.
  • An ongoing commitment to providing Housing Affordability for 15% of all residential units.
  • A minimum of a 35% Diverse Workforce during the construction of buildings with minority, female, veteran and disabled workforce.
  • A commitment to a minimum of 50% Local Workforce during construction from the Greater Philadelphia region.
  • MWVDBE Retail Opportunities by providing a minimum of 25% of all retail to firms with subsidized lease terms.
  • Internship program with local universities will bring opportunities to minority and female students in the Delaware Valley.

“The Navy Yard continues to be an economic engine for our region, and we are now focused on creating even more meaningful change. Ensemble/Mosaic is dedicating tremendous energy, time and financial commitment with its investment directed toward minority, women, disabled and veteran-owned companies,” said Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the Navy Yard within the Second District. “This $1B pledge and each individual commitment will make an enormous difference to companies and individuals over the next 20 years.”

Pushing the Boundaries of Sustainability

“There is a long history of leadership around sustainability at the Philadelphia Navy Yard – from pilot programs for stormwater and autonomous shuttles to an 8MW peak-shaving battery back-up and Pennsylvania’s first community solar project, just to name a few,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “The campus already contains more than a dozen LEED certified buildings ranging from Certified to Double Platinum, and Ensemble/Mosaic’s commitment to sustainable development and management will continue to set the pace in our region and across the nation.”

Each Ensemble/Mosaic development project will be designed to achieve a LEED Silver or higher standard, demonstrably saving energy, water and other natural resources for the city and its residents. To carry these goals further, Ensemble/Mosaic has assembled a team of progressive design leaders, placemaking idea generators, and transportation futurists to create Philadelphia’s first LEED Certified Neighborhood Development at the Navy Yard.

LEED Neighborhood (LEED-ND) Development is a program engineered to inspire and help create better, more sustainable, well-connected neighborhoods, looking beyond the scale of buildings to consider entire communities. The Navy Yard will be one of the first of its kind designed with this new approach.

“One of the first things that really struck us as we went through the selection process for a development partner was Ensemble/Mosaic’s shared passion for the creation of an intentional and inclusive economic opportunity initiatives plan,” added McNamara. “We are excited that Ensemble/Mosaic quickly launched this plan concurrent with its development projects. This fresh approach will support the Navy Yard’s growth and positively impact generations of Philadelphia residents and businesses.”

 

Appendix 1: List of 21 MWVDBE Firms (alphabetized)

These firms are currently participating and are included in the $7.5M commitments in process.

 

Appendix 2: MWBE Representation Chart

PNY Comm Solar Project Revzilla Project 7-25-17

PIDC Awards Dominion Energy the Electric Utility Operations & Maintenance Contract for the Philadelphia Navy Yard

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Photo of Navy Yard Community Solar Project courtesy of Alternative Energy Development Group, LLC 

PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, announces the award for a 10-year electric utility Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services contract to Dominion Energy for the Navy Yard following a highly competitive solicitation process. This contract will go into effect on November 1, 2021 following a transition period.

After a thorough review of proposals that met the Request for Proposals (RFP) criteria, Dominion Energy was selected for its strong financials and industry relevance including an extensive background and knowledge with privatized military utility installations similar to the Navy Yard electric utility grid. Through responsive on-site management, and commitment to meaningful small business subcontracting, the Navy Yard and its customers will gain industry-leading service reliability, financial performance, innovation, responsiveness, and service reliability to support effective response to routine, urgent, and emergency service needs and interruptions.

“Dominion Energy is excited to bring its expertise in providing top-notch service to the Navy Yard,” said Todd Headlee, Director of Customer Energy Solutions – Dominion Energy Virginia. “We bring our best effort every day to our regulated customers in Virginia and will show the same commitment to the tenants and customers at the Navy Yard.”

Since the military base closed and was transferred to PIDC’s leadership in 2000, the Navy Yard’s electric utility system has grown to accommodate more customers and has become more sophisticated. It is a large, independently operated unregulated energy grid, and since 2010, more than $35 million in upgrades have been performed and new capacity added, including the addition of a peaking plant, a battery storage plant, and Pennsylvania’s first community solar project.

“We are pleased to award this important contract to Dominion Energy, who brings unparalleled O&M experience, deep resources, and the most comprehensive expertise and support for our advanced utility operations at the Navy Yard,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “We are confident in their capacity and knowledge to provide the best level of service to our existing customers and future customers, and this will allow the next phase of real estate development to grow and flourish.”

The Navy Yard continues to grow as a premiere location for businesses and employees in Philadelphia. The next phase of development will solidify the Navy Yard’s place as a leader in business, manufacturing, R&D, and life sciences and will include the creation of a vibrant mixed-use district including retail, makerspace, and – for the first time since the base closure – residential development. With this next phase of commercial and residential development, the Navy Yard is expected to add an additional 5.4 million square feet of space at full build-out over the next 15 to 20 years and plans to grow from its peak demand of 33 megawatts serving 105 accounts and 120 facilities to 55 megawatts. Additionally, Dominion Energy will also ensure future energy needs are met as new capacity is added to the private grid.

A key component to Dominion Energy’s winning bid was fulfilling the strong, specific commitments to not only subcontract with local Philadelphia businesses and disadvantaged businesses in the conduct of its work, but also to improve the overall capacity of those local and disadvantaged businesses through their work. Dominion Energy will be working closely with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Economic Opportunity to implement a robust Economic Opportunity Plan to achieve an average of 40% of minority- and women-owned business enterprises for major repairs and planned capital projects over the 10-year contract period.

Dominion Energy offers comprehensive O&M and business management expertise backed by 100+ years’ experience as one of the nation’s largest regulated utility companies, serving more than 3.2 million electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Dominion Energy also extends 15 years of experience in owning, operating, and maintaining privatized, non-regulated systems on critical installations (similar to the Navy Yard) in South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

 

About Dominion Energy
More than 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

Media Contact:

Dominion Energy: Enrique Diaz, Enrique.B.Diaz@dominionenergy.com, 804-771-6115

PIDC/Navy Yard: Jen Tran, jtran@pidcphila.com, 215-218-2854