The Navy Yard Blog

Example of beauty and function of stormwater management built into a pedestrian-only canal street.

The Navy Yard – Building through Sustainability & Resiliency

April 21, 2023/in Community, Energy, Innovation, Sustainability, Technology /by The Navy Yard

What has made the Navy Yard the coolest and most successful commercial redevelopments of an old military instillation are the continued commitments to sustainability & resiliency. This has been the mission since PIDC began redevelopment nearly 20 years ago and will remain true through future redevelopment plans.

The Navy Yard is dedicated to providing a sustainable, efficient, and green work environment for the approximately 150 companies and 15,000 employees that call the Navy Yard home. These companies range from industrial shipbuilding and maintenance to high-tech, live-saving breakthroughs in medical technology. The Navy Yard is a place for businesses from any sector to thrive in a sustainable fashion.

“In redeveloping the Navy Yard, we wanted to create a campus built on a foundation of sustainability and resiliency,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s senior vice president at the Navy Yard. “We look for innovative and industry-leading ways to incorporate those elements throughout our 1,200-acre site. Things like adaptive reuse and modernization of historic buildings, ensuring new construction projects are LEED certified, creating green spaces that are welcoming to and designed to reduce stormwater runoff, and providing equitable access to green transit options like Navy Yard buses, Indego bike share, car share, and EV chargers.”

Because of the sustainability and resiliency efforts at the Navy Yard, PIDC received the Industry Innovation/Corporate Sustainability Award, which honors environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment, from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC).

“The recognition from PEC reinforced our longstanding commitment to responsible redevelopment,” said McNamara. “At PIDC, our strategic framework lays out a plan to drive growth to every corner Philadelphia, and sustainability and resiliency is one of the three integral and intersecting lenses we look through to advance development and growth in balance with the environment to support present and future generations.”

As PIDC and Ensemble/Mosaic embark on their partnership for the transformative new phase of Navy Yard development that is slated to bring in more than 12,000 new jobs and more than $6 billion of new investment over the next 20 years, sustainability and resiliency are paramount to the success of that plan.

Because the Navy Yard is located along the Delaware River, climate change and a rise in the water level must be fully considered. In the plan, maximizing resiliency through raising vulnerable portions of the site – elevating buildings and infrastructure, incorporating innovative stormwater infrastructure including canals and swales along the streets on the east side of the campus to convey stormwater, and using dry ponds, green roofs, and resilient landscaping and trees are at the forefront of planning to mitigate the impact of climate change and prevent flooding in this new community.

The plan also demonstrates sustainability – which has always been a hallmark of the Navy Yard – through the pursuit of Philadelphia’s first LEED Gold Neighborhood Development of scale, a program which creates more sustainable, well-connected neighborhoods, looking beyond the scale of buildings to consider entire communities.

Other sustainability and resiliency highlights in the plan include smart, interconnected system linking multiple transit modes; parking & mobility hubs; expanded transit, including autonomous; enhanced bike & pedestrian amenities; evaluating sustainable power alternatives; pursuing pilot projects for advanced energy management (e.g., building-to-grid tech); and integrated green stormwater management.

Example of beauty and function of stormwater management built into a pedestrian-only canal street.

2022 Navy Yard Plan example of addressing climate change and sea level rise through raising roads, elevating future construction sites and infrastructure.

More information about sustainability and resiliency in the future development plans at the Navy Yard can be found at in Section 5 of the Navy Yard Plan.

CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY EFFORTS

ELECTRIC GRID
The Navy Yard is powered by a 44-megawatt unregulated electric grid, which makes it one of the largest unregulated electric distribution systems on the East Coast. This makes it an ideal setting for smart grid research and for demonstrating and deploying energy-efficient technologies, energy generation and storage, and microgrid controls and distribution.

The Navy Yard is also working to continue to strategically install EV chargers around campus.

SOLAR
There are more than 1,200 solar panels in the community solar power system that allows companies at the Navy Yard the opportunity to share the benefits of solar power without installing panels on their own property. The Navy Yard Community Solar project was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. It produces 930,000 of kWh of clean, reliable, and cost-effective power per year.

Solar roof top on an adaptively reused building.

AV SHUTTLE & BUS ELECTRIFICATION
Partnering with DVRPC, PennDOT, Perrone Robotics, AECOM, and Drexel University to deploy Pennsylvania’s first AV shuttle at the Navy Yard in 2023. The zero-emissions shuttle will provide visitors and employees with transportation services within the Philadelphia Navy Yard and to SEPTA’s NRG Station located at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.

The pilot AV shuttle is funded by the Travel Options Program, a grant program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). Not only will this shuttle provide the Navy Yard’s employees and visitors with additional safe and sustainable transit access around campus and connecting to the region via the subway connection, but it also showcases Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia as a leader in the latest technologies and innovation.

We are also developing a plan to transition the current fleet of Navy Yard Transit shuttles into electric-powered shuttles, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

AV shuttle pilot at the Navy Yard and current Navy Yard Transit Shuttle that connects the Navy Yard SEPTA’s NRG Station and Center City Philadelphia.

BUILDING RE-USE
PIDC and several private development partners have renovated many of the former Marine and Navy officers’ quarters and historic buildings. These now provide beautiful, historic, and eclectic office space to a wide variety of commercial tenants – examples include URBN Corporate HQ and the reuse of former Marine Barracks and Admiral Quarters.

URBN Corporate HQ at the Navy Yard.

HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS
PIDC requires the design and construction of high-performance, sustainable buildings at the Navy Yard, primarily through LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certification, the rating system created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

In total, 85% of existing buildings are LEED certified buildings, including Philadelphia’s first developer-owned LEED Platinum building built in 2005 (One Crescent Drive) and Philadelphia’s first double LEED Platinum building built in 2013 (Five Crescent Drive).

One Crescent

(top) One Crescent Drive – Philadelphia’s first developer-owned LEED Platinum building built in 2005. (bottom) Five Crescent Drive – Philadelphia’s first double LEED Platinum building built in 2013.

Several Navy Yard buildings also include green roofs as a way to manage stormwater and reduce energy costs. 2500 League Island Boulevard, one of the Navy Yard’s newest life science buildings, has a 60,000 square foot green roof, and Five Crescent Drive has 40 percent of its roof covered with vegetation.

2500-LIB-Greenroof

(top) 2500 League Island Boulevard getting its 60,000 square foot green roof installed (Photo by LiveRoof). (bottom) Aerial view of Five Crescent Drive with 40 percent of its roof covered in vegetation (Image from Google Earth).

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

We have worked closely with the Philadelphia Water Department’s Watersheds Initiative, as well as piloted the use of innovative stormwater management systems. Examples of demonstrated improvements include rain gardens, sidewalk and landscape buffers, and drainage swales, all of which prevent considerable levels of runoff from reaching city sewers.

Current example of stormwater management infrastructure.

20 ACRES OF PARKS & ARBORETUM

The Navy Yard has more than 20 acres of parks and a mile of waterfront trail. These open spaces provide opportunities for employees and visitors stretch their legs, expand their minds, and enjoy the outdoors.

The Navy Yard is also a certified Level-1 arboretum (certified by Arbnet in 2018). With more than 2,000 trees already established, it demonstrates the Navy Yard’s commitment to maintaining and establishing public greenspace, sustainable landscapes, and resiliency.

As one of only six arboretums in Philadelphia, it is especially important that the Navy Yard preserves and expands greenspaces at the Navy Yard. By building upon and sustaining green spaces, the Navy Yard can assure that future generations have a place to appreciate nature in an urban environment, while at the same time developing the Navy Yard to create equitable growth, jobs, and accessibility for decades to come.
Central Green has one multiple awards for its design and incorporation of stormwater management features.

Central Green has one multiple awards for its design and incorporation of stormwater management features.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Darcy awards Haddonfield High School with the Overall Best award in the Captain’s Class during the 18th annual Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Philadelphia on March 24, 2023. SeaPerch is an international underwater robotics competition for middle and high school students. (U.S. Navy photo by Sgt. Jermaine Sullivan/Released)

NSWCPD Co-Hosts 18th Annual Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge with Temple University

April 14, 2023/in Cool Jobs, Energy, Sustainability, Technology, Tenants /by The Navy Yard

The following is courtesy of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division. You can access the original article here.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Darcy awards Haddonfield High School with the Overall Best award in the Captain’s Class during the 18th annual Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Philadelphia on March 24, 2023. SeaPerch is an international underwater robotics competition for middle and high school students. (U.S. Navy photo by Sgt. Jermaine Sullivan/Released)

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) Computer Scientists Nicholas Carmen (left) and Stephen Lau (right) supervise Kingsley Nwoko, a student at George Washington Carver High School, while he solders a part for this SeaPerch during the 18th annual Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center in Philadelphia on March 24, 2023. SeaPerch is an international underwater robotics competition for middle and high school students. (U.S. Navy photo by Sgt. Jermaine Sullivan/Released)

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division co-hosted the 18th annual Greater Philadelphia SeaPerch Challenge with Temple University’s College of Science and Technology at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center on March 24, 2023.

SeaPerch is an underwater robotics competition for middle and high school students in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Students complete a presentation and technical design report of their SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) prior to the event. Schools are required to compete in both the obstacle and mission pool events.

NSWCPD’s Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Darcy and Technical Director Nigel C. Thijs gave words of encouragement to the students throughout the event.

“In the military we need STEM professionals like yourself. If you want to serve the country in a different capacity, you can do that. We need scientists, engineers, problem-solvers like yourself so keep doing what you’re doing … The Greater Delaware Valley had a huge impact on building our Nation so I can see that it is in good hands,” Darcy said in relating the SeaPerch competition to the needs of the Navy.

“Engineering and the sciences teach us how to analyze and examine things. Think about the problems you solved and how good it felt when you accomplished your goal. I’m proud to see you all here competing and for the creativity you showed in the course of this competition.” Thijs said reflecting on the competition.

The obstacle pool event requires students to navigate their ROV through several hoops, rise above the water, and then return back through the hoops.

Students are allowed one chance to successfully complete the event unless there is an electrical or mechanical failure with their ROV. This rule benefited Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls students Phuong Nguyen and Withnie Merone,

During their first attempt, Nguyen and Merone submerged their ROV and began the obstacle pool event. They noticed their ROV was malfunctioning. This forced them to end their attempt and perform maintenance on their ROV in preparation for the redo round.

“The motor fell off and the zip tie didn’t work so we had to fix that,” Nguyen said recalling their first attempt at the obstacle course.

Nguyen and Merone performed repairs on their ROV and came back for a second attempt at the obstacle course.

“We didn’t go far enough with the second attempt. We reached the last hoop and we got tangled. It was horrible,” Merone said.

Because Nguyen and Merone are juniors they will have an opportunity to come back next year and try again. They plan to learn from the errors they made here to perform better next time.

“The lesson that I learned was that we should put a light on the vehicle so we can know which way it’s going so we won’t get tangled,” Nguyen said.

“I think we should all be more prepared for the challenges that we might face. Bringing tools like binoculars could help us and adding lights to the perch,” Merone added.

This year featured a brand-new tasking – the rocket mission event — which required students to attach a rocket to their ROV and launch it down a lane. The rocket had to land within the student’s lane to get points. Students also had the opportunity to release three rockets from underwater obstacles that could then be launched to score additional points.

“This year we challenged teams to launch rockets and it wasn’t as simple as an easy modification onto the vehicles. Prior years what we had done is that teams would have to add a small widget onto their vehicles to do the competition. It was something as a simple as a hook or a pole or something like that. This year it was an entire design with a solenoid [valve],” NSWCPD’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program Manager and SeaPerch/SeaGlide Director Tristan Wolfe said in explaining the new event.

Teams were tasked with modifying their controllers by incorporating a solenoid valve. The intent was for students to operate the valve with a push of a button.

“They had to waterproof everything. They had to modify the controller. It was much more challenging for the students. We saw that during the competition that it was a challenging mission this year,” Wolfe added.

Because it was a new event, some students struggled to complete the event. Students Joseph Kwee and Tyler Baughman, two juniors from STEM-UP, the NSWCPD-sponsored afterschool program in collaboration with Temple University, found some success in the mission event.

“We did technically pretty well. We were able to get most of the objectives underwater. Afterwards we were able to launch five rockets out of the six. We wish that rockets went into the zones, but they went into different lanes,” Kwee said.

“Something I liked about this year was moving the crab and using the push button because it was a lot different than last year’s obstacle course,” Baughman said.

Baughman has attended the competition for five years while Kwee has participated in the competition for four years. STEM-UP placed third in the technical design report category.

Several NSWCPD employees volunteered their time to assist with judging the competition, such as Jamie Gates, a NSWCPD program manager who appreciates the hard work by the middle and high school students each year.

“I volunteered because this is one of my favorite days. I think working with the kids and seeing all of their hard work in creating the SeaPerch and then competing makes for a very fun environment,” Gates said.

Each team from the middle school and high school divisions were divided between the Captain or Admiral class. The Captain class had a $25 cap on purchasing modifications for the SeaPerch, while the Admiral class didn’t have a cap. The two classes are meant to create an equal playing field amongst students regardless of their school’s funding.

The participating teams in the SeaPerch middle school division were: Add B. Anderson School, East Norriton Middle School, George W. Nebinger School, Haddonfield Middle School, Radnor Middle School, Saint Ephrem School, Saint Helena School – Blue Bell, Snyder Middle School, Saint Katherine of Siena School, STEM Scholars, Sonderton Charter School Collaborative, Danville Middle School, Universal Vare STEM & Arts Academy, R.W. Brown Boys & Girls Club, Our Lady of Hope – South Philadelphia, and Northley Middle School.

SeaPerch’s winners for the middle school division were as follows:

Technical Design Report
First – Universal Vare STEM & Arts Academy
Second – Haddonfield Middle School
Third – Danville Area School District

Presentation
First – Haddonfield Middle School
Second – Snyder Middle School
Third – Northley Middle School

Vehicle Performance, Captain class
First – Danville Area School District
Second – Saint Helena – Blue Bell

Vehicle Performance, Admiral class
First – Snyder Middle School
Second – East Norriton Middle School

Overall Champion, Captain class
First – Danville Area School District
Second – Radnor Middle School

Overall Champion, Admiral class
First – Snyder Middle School
Second – East Norriton Middle School

Engineering Process
First – Haddonfield Middle School

Women in Defense Liberty Chapter 2023 SeaPerch Challenge Award
First – Our Lady of Hope South Philadelphia

Make a Splash Award
First – Haddonfield Middle School

The participating teams in the SeaPerch high school division were: Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Haddonfield High School, Kroc Center of Philadelphia, Manchester Township High School, Springfield High School, Sycamore Squad, Delaware Valley Friends School, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Danville High School, STEM-UP, Radnor High School, Cape Henlopen High School, Merion Merch Academy, The U School, George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science.

SeaPerch’s winners for the high school division were as follows:

Technical Design Report
First – Haddonfield High School
Second – Danville Area School District
Third – STEM-UP

Presentation
First – Sycamore Squad
Second – Haddonfield High School
Third – Danville Area School District

Vehicle Performance, Captain class
First – Haddonfield High School
Second – Academy of Notre Dame

Vehicle Performance, Admiral class
First – Sycamore Squad
Second – Danville Area School District

Overall Champion, Captain class
First – Haddonfield High School
Second – Academy of Notre Dame
Overall Champion, Admiral class
First – Sycamore Squad
Second – Danville Area School District
Engineering Process Award
First – Sycamore Squad

Women in Defense Liberty Chapter 2023 SeaPerch Challenge Award
First – Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

Make a Splash Award
First – Pennsbury High School

SeaPerch aims to reduce traditional barriers to participation in robotics programs and promotes opportunities to engage students and educators in inquiry-based learning with real-world applications. As an educational program, SeaPerch introduces students to basic engineering, design, and science concepts. As a fun hands-on project, SeaPerch engages students and fosters key 21st century skills including critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity.

NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.

Attendees from the American Planning Association National Planning Conference 2023 get a sneak peek of the Ensemble/Mosaic Marketing Suite that has a model and video of future development at the Navy Yard.

Navy Yard Showcased during Planning Conference in Philadelphia

April 5, 2023/in Community, Energy, Events, History, Innovation, Life Sciences, Sustainability, Technology, Tenants /by The Navy Yard

The Navy Yard was a must-see stop as planners from around the country gathered in Philadelphia for the American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference 2023 (NPC23) March 31-April 4 – with a focus on how the planning community can lead the way to develop solutions to today’s most pressing problems.

They Navy Yard hosted several different tours for nearly 100 attendees to talk about challenges in developing a former military installation into a diverse business campus that is now home to more than 150 companies and 15,000 employees.

During the different events at the Navy Yard, attendees:

Got personalized tours around the Navy Yard campus to discuss the history, the diversity in the companies (from industrial shipbuilding to innovation in life sciences), sustainability and resiliency efforts, and future development plans
Walked through the URBN campus to witness how pre-World War II buildings have been adaptively reused and modernized into URBN’s corporate headquarters
Rode the new, innovative, and electric Navy Yard A/V Shuttle, which is expected to be fully operational on the Navy Yard campus this summer
Saw the newly debuted Ensemble/Mosaic Marketing Center that shows what future development plans at the Navy Yard will look like through an interactive model that is synched with a video screen highlighting realistic views of architectural design features like pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, stormwater management systems, and innovative building designs

In total, nearly 100 planners from around the country got to experience the Navy Yard and learn about the future development plans to be able to use it as an example of how approach projects in their part of the country.

Attendees from the American Planning Association National Planning Conference 2023 walk through the UBRN campus at the Navy Yard to learn about adaptive building reuse.

Attendees from the American Planning Association National Planning Conference 2023 get a sneak peek of the Ensemble/Mosaic Marketing Suite that has a model and video of future development at the Navy Yard.

Attendees from the American Planning Association National Planning Conference 2023 board the Navy Yard A/V Shuttle to experience driverless transportation.

Pennsylvania’s First Autonomous Shuttle Coming to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in December

December 15, 2022/in Energy, News, Press Releases, Sustainability /by The Navy Yard

PRESS RELEASE

Pennsylvania’s first autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle is coming to Philadelphia this December. This comes off the heels of Governor Tom Wolf signing HB 2398, an AV bill which allows for the testing and full commercial deployment of AVs on Pennsylvania roads, into law November 3.

Beginning in December, the zero-emissions shuttle pilot will consist of testing, training, and analyzing the shuttle’s performance at the Navy Yard.

Once this testing is complete in early 2023, Phase 1 of the full deployment will augment existing transportation services between key locations within the Navy Yard, and then in Phase 2 will connect the Navy Yard to SEPTA’s NRG Station on the Broad Street subway line and adjacent to the Sports Complex and FDR Park.

The project took a step forward in February 2022 when PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation, awarded Perrone Robotics, Inc. a two-phased AV shuttle and services contract. The pilot AV shuttle is funded by the Travel Options Program, a grant program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). The Travel Options Program is an ongoing regional initiative that awards funds for innovative projects to provide better access to more travel options, while meeting the goals of climate action and air quality improvement, equity, reliability, freedom of choice, and affordability.

“The idea behind the Travel Options Program is to fund innovative projects that expand accessibility to and encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone, and we are pleased to fund the first AV shuttle in Greater Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Barry Seymour, DVRPC Executive Director. “This exciting project will enhance accessibility to jobs and amenities in the Navy Yard and potentially cut the use of single occupancy vehicles while reducing emissions. It is the culmination of ongoing public-private partnerships, and many years of planning related to new technologies and is just the start of adding more electric and AV vehicles to the menu of travel options in our region.”

This project will enhance Navy Yard access and also help to reduce congestion and carbon emissions for the region. The Navy Yard AV shuttle deployment will include a backup operator on board during the pilot. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will oversee regulatory approvals and is partnering with researchers at Drexel University to analyze shuttle performance and rider feedback to inform future deployments. The infrastructure consulting firm AECOM assisted the grant proposal, and through its existing contracts with PennDOT will be providing overall program management, technical planning, testing, and deployment expertise.

“We are honored and excited to be part of this forward-thinking program with PIDC, DVRPC, PennDOT, AECOM, and Drexel University, to bring the world’s first automated Buy America, FMVSS, and ADA-compliant transit van to the city of Philadelphia,” said Paul Perrone, CEO and founder of Perrone Robotics. “This program will be a national example of the power of private-public partnerships to connect communities through safety-enhanced mobility solutions. We look forward to providing our TONY AV driver for the streets of Philadelphia and beyond to meet the growing demand across the United States and worldwide.”

“This is an exciting project, and AECOM is proud to partner with PennDOT, PIDC, the City, and DVRPC to bring the AV shuttle to Philadelphia.” said Michael Girman, Senior Vice President, Transportation, AECOM. “Management of congestion, particularly during construction, is a substantial concern when creating more equitable and efficient transportation infrastructure, and we are always looking for innovative and collaborative ways to solve our region’s transportation challenges.”

“The Drexel University team, which includes Professors Dimitrios Fafalis and Divya Bhargava and their students in the College of Engineering, is delighted to be part of this pilot program,” said Jonathan Spanier, Professor and Head, Drexel University Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics. “Drexel’s participation is well-aligned with two strategic priorities of Drexel 2030. This project harnesses the power of partnership with PennDOT and other transportation infrastructure stakeholders in the region. It also supports the empowering of students to be purpose-driven global citizens through their involvement in activities that seek to understand the potential for AV technology to improve safety and mobility on city streets and through construction zones.”

“The City is proud to host the first AV shuttle in Pennsylvania. Shared autonomous vehicles, such as this zero-emission shuttle that will connect the Navy Yard and NRG station, will demonstrate how this innovative technology can support safe and sustainable cities in the future by supporting existing transit systems and expanding their reach,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “This shuttle will bring a new travel option to Philadelphians and support access to the jobs, parks, and opportunities within the Navy Yard.”

PIDC leads the development and site operations for the Navy Yard, including its Navy Yard Transit program, which currently operates two routes to NRG Station and Center City Philadelphia. As part of PIDC’s mission – to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth in every corner of Philadelphia – this AV project will support a growing community of 15,000 employees, 8 million square feet of mix-use facilities that includes office, industrial, R&D, life sciences, and institutional space, with plans to add additional office, laboratories and clean spaces, retail, restaurants and hotels, and residential buildings, parks, greenways, and amenities over the next 20 years.

PIDC reviewed a wide range of mobility options focused on proven reliability and safety, including conducting a public request for proposals (RFP) process. Perrone Robotics’ successful history of AV deployments across municipal, university, and community projects, made it a clear choice for the pilot project. Perrone’s portfolio of turn-key AV transit and transportation shuttles include small, medium, and large vehicles for use in geofenced and localized operations.

“We are thrilled to partner with DVRPC, PennDOT, Perrone Robotics, AECOM, and Drexel University to deploy Pennsylvania’s first AV shuttle at the Navy Yard,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “Not only will this shuttle provide the Navy Yard’s employees and visitors with additional safe and sustainable transit access around campus and connecting to the region via the subway connection, but it also showcases Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia as a leader in the latest technologies and innovation. We are excited to support this project at the Navy Yard.”

For the first phase of the project, Perrone will deploy the TONY-MEV (a medium electric transit vehicle), which will be fully ADA compliant, all electric, and fully FMVSS compliant. The vehicle will be integrated with Perrone’s TONY (To Navigate You) technology that converts the shuttle to fully automated capabilities for operations in the Navy Yard. The shuttle can seat nine passengers plus a wheelchair, aside from the operator. The wheelchair ramp feature will be accessible from a standard roadside curb.

“Automated technologies have tremendous potential to expand equitable transportation options and enhance safety,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We are committed to safely developing this industry in Pennsylvania and look forward to partnering on this shuttle deployment.”

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About DVRPC
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Greater Philadelphia region, established by an Interstate Compact between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. Members include Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, plus the City of Chester, in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties, plus the cities of Camden and Trenton, in New Jersey.

DVRPC’s vision for the Greater Philadelphia Region is a prosperous, innovative, equitable, resilient, and sustainable region that increases mobility choices by investing in a safe and modern transportation system; that protects and preserves our natural resources while creating healthy communities; and that fosters greater opportunities for all.

DVRPC’s mission is to achieve this vision by convening the widest array of partners to inform and facilitate data-driven decision-making. We are engaged across the region, and strive to be leaders and innovators, exploring new ideas and creating best practices. Learn more at www.dvrpc.org.

About PIDC
PIDC is Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation. Since acquiring the 1,200-acre site from the federal government in 2000, PIDC has led the development and site operations for the Navy Yard. PIDC’s mission—to spur investment, support business growth, and facilitate developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia—strongly informs its strategy for the Navy Yard, where the focus is on building a cohesive community that fosters employment, innovation, and production. PIDC manages all aspects of the Navy Yard, including planning, leasing, property management, infrastructure development, utility operation, and structuring development transactions. For more information about PIDC, visit www.PIDCphila.com and follow us @PIDCphila on Twitter. For more information about the Navy Yard, visit www.navyyard.org and follow us on Twitter @NavyYardPhila.

About PennDOT
PennDOT oversees programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports, and waterways. More than three-quarters of PennDOT’s annual budget is invested in Pennsylvania’s approximately 120,000 miles of state and local highways and 32,000 state and local bridges. PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,400 bridges, a system first established in 1911.

Roughly 7,200 of PennDOT’s complement of nearly 11,375 employees are engaged in the maintenance, restoration, and expansion of the state highway system. They work in central headquarters in Harrisburg and 11 engineering districts, with facilities in all 67 counties.

PennDOT also administers the state’s 11.8 million vehicle registrations and 10.3 million driver’s licenses and IDs, and oversees safety and emission inspection programs.

About Perrone Robotics, Inc.
Perrone is a leading provider of fully automated vehicle systems. The company delivers mobility excellence via TONY® (short for “TO Navigate You”), a vehicle independent retrofit kit for use in the automated transit of people and goods in geo-fenced and localized operations. TONY embeds inside any vehicle type or model, for any job application to provide a complete “artificial driver” solution that brings full autonomy in a safety certifiable framework. Proven, piloted and in commercial production, Perrone automated systems help commercial, municipal, and governmental customers increase transportation efficiencies, enhance safety, and accelerate zero-emission electric vehicle deployment. The company also offers a portfolio of existing turnkey automated shuttles and vehicles pre-integrated with the TONY retrofit kit. Learn more @ www.perronerobotics.com or follow us @perronerobotics.

About Drexel University College of Engineering
Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is a comprehensive urban university of more than 23,000 students, and a leader in experiential, technology-infused education, enriched by the nation’s premier cooperative- education program. Drexel is rethinking its institutional boundaries and creating a vibrant presence and ecosystem of innovation in and around University City while delivering on the University’s public purpose as an anchor institution for Philadelphia.

As the cornerstone of Drexel, the College of Engineering empowers students to engineer change in their lives and through their careers by emphasizing a balance of theory and practical experience. Faculty scholars and industry experts cultivate technically and theoretically trained adaptable engineers who are dedicated to the discovery and the application of technology, and who understand the global, social and ethical implications of creating sustainable solutions to societal challenges. Through industry and community partnerships, Drexel Engineering is committed to engaging students in capstone learning experiences and helping to drive the advancement of technology and automation in the region.

About AECOM
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical expertise and innovation, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $13.3 billion in fiscal year 2021. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Media Contacts:

PIDC: Jacob Dillon, Director, Navy Yard Marketing and Communications
jdillon@PIDCphila.com / 215-218-2856 | Cell: 757-705-9281

DVRPC: Elise Turner, Manager, Office of Communications and Engagement
eturner@dvrpc.org / 215-435-0379 (cell)

PennDOT: Erin Waters-Trasatt, Communications Director
ewaterstra@pa.gov / 717-873-8800

Drexel: Britt Faulstick, Executive Director of Media Relations, Drexel University
britt.faulstick@drexel.edu / 215.895.2617

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PIDC Receives Sustainability Award for Work at the Navy Yard

November 30, 2022/in Energy, News, Sustainability /by The Navy Yard

PIDC received the Industry Innovation/Corporate Sustainability Award, which honors environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment, from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council for more than twenty years of leadership in redeveloping a former military shipyard into a mixed-use campus with a focus on sustainable development.

Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President at the Navy Yard, accepted the award on behalf of PIDC at the 52^nd Annual Environmental Partnership Dinner held in Philadelphia on Nov. 17. Watch the video about the Navy Yard’s sustainability efforts below or on YouTube.

Since PIDC acquired the shipyard on behalf of the City of Philadelphia in 2000, PIDC has remained committed to providing a sustainable, efficient, and green work environment for the 150 businesses on our diverse 1,200-acre campus.

Navy Yard businesses and employees work in adaptively reused buildings or LEED certified new construction, enjoy over 20 acres of open park space that reduces stormwater runoff, and have access to green transit options like Navy Yard buses, Indego bike share, car share, and EV chargers.

Sustainable site operations at the Navy Yard include:

SOLAR: More than 1,200 solar panels have been installed in our community solar power system that allows companies at the Navy Yard the opportunity to share the benefits of solar power without installing panels on their own property. The Navy Yard Community Solar project was the first of its kind in PA. When fully operational it will produce 930,000 of kWh of clean, reliable, and cost-effective power per year.
BUILDING RE-USE: PIDC and several private development partners have renovated many of the former Marine and Navy officers’ quarters and historic buildings. These now provide beautiful, historic, and eclectic office space to a wide variety of commercial tenants – examples include URBN Corporate HQ and the reuse of former Marine Barracks and Admiral Quarters.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS: PIDC strongly encourages the design and construction of high-performance, sustainable buildings at the Navy Yard. We require our partners to construct highly sustainable projects that in most instances include LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certifications, the rating system created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
In total, 85% of existing buildings are LEED certified buildings, including Philadelphia’s first developer-owned LEED Platinum building built in 2005 and Philadelphia’s first double LEED Platinum building built in 2013.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: We have worked closely with the Philadelphia Water Department’s Watersheds Initiative; the Navy Yard has piloted the use of innovative stormwater management systems. Examples of demonstrated improvements include rain gardens, sidewalk and landscape buffers, and drainage swales, all of which prevent considerable levels of runoff from reaching city sewers.
ARBORETUM: The Navy Yard was certified as a Level-1 arboretum in 2018 by Arbnet with more than 2,000 trees already established demonstrates the Navy Yard’s commitment to public greenspace, sustainable landscapes, and resiliency. As one of only five arboretums in Philadelphia, it is especially important that the Navy Yard preserves and expands greenspaces at the Navy Yard. By building upon and sustaining green spaces, the Navy Yard can assure that future generations have a place to appreciate nature in an urban environment, while at the same time developing the Navy Yard to create equitable growth, jobs, and accessibility for decades to come.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT: As we embark on our $6B, 15-20-year development, we have put sustainability at the forefront by thinking of and planning for:
- Smart, interconnected system linking multiple transit modes
- Parking & mobility hubs
- Expanded transit, including autonomous
- Enhanced bike & pedestrian amenities
- Exploring LEED district
- Incorporating sea level rise and climate change / Elevated buildings and infrastructure
- Evaluating sustainable power alternatives
- Pursuing pilot projects for advanced energy management (e.g., building-to-grid tech)
- Integrated green stormwater management
- Advanced energy management (e.g., building-to-grid tech)

Pennsylvania’s first automated vehicle (AV) shuttle is coming to Philadelphia this summer. The zero-emissions shuttle will provide visitors and employees with transportation services within the Philadelphia Navy Yard and to SEPTA’s NRG Station located at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.

Pennsylvania’s First Automated Shuttle Coming to the Philadelphia Navy Yard

February 24, 2022/in Amenities, Energy, Press Releases, Sustainability /by The Navy Yard

Pennsylvania’s first automated vehicle (AV) shuttle is coming to Philadelphia this summer. The zero-emissions shuttle will provide visitors and employees with transportation services within the Philadelphia Navy Yard and to SEPTA’s NRG Station located at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue.

The project took a step forward this week when PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation, awarded Perrone Robotics, Inc. a two-phased AV shuttle and services contract. The pilot AV shuttle is funded by the Travel Options Program, a grant program of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). The Travel Options Program is an ongoing regional initiative that awards funds for innovative projects to provide better access to more travel options, while meeting the goals of climate action and air quality improvement, equity, reliability, freedom of choice, and affordability.

Pennsylvania’s first automated vehicle (AV) shuttle is coming to Philadelphia this summer! The zero-emissions shuttle will provide visitors and employees with transportation services within the Navy Yard and to SEPTA’s NRG Station.

“The idea behind the Travel Options Program is to fund innovative projects that expand accessibility to and encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone, and we are pleased to fund the first AV shuttle in Greater Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Barry Seymour, DVRPC Executive Director. “This project is the culmination of ongoing public-private partnerships, and many years of planning related to new technologies and is just the start of adding more electric and AV vehicles to the menu of travel options in our region.”

“The deployment of the AV shuttle in Philadelphia has been a vision AECOM has been partnering with the City on since 2018. We understand the important need to provide supplemental transit services to all Philadelphians and those visiting the Navy Yard and Sport Complex areas,” said Dan Corey, Vice President, Director of Strategic Solutions Global Transportation, AECOM. “We’re thrilled to support this important project with innovative, sustainable, and collaborative solutions that are accessible to all while leaving a positive impact on the environment and prioritizing safety.”

The terms of the award include the delivery of the state’s and region’s first Level 3 (as defined by SAE J3016) automated, zero-emissions, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) compliant, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, Buy America compliant, and street-worthy shuttle to transport visitors and employees around the Navy Yard campus. The AV shuttle in Phase 1 will augment existing transportation services between key locations within the Navy Yard, and then in Phase 2 will connect the Navy Yard to SEPTA’s NRG Station on the Broad Street subway line and adjacent to the Sports Complex and FDR Park.

For the first phase of the project, Perrone will deploy the TONY-MEV (a medium electric transit vehicle), built on the proven Ford 350HD chassis, fully ADA compliant, and equipped with a state-of-the-art battery-electric powertrain manufactured and installed by Lightning eMotors. The vehicle will be integrated with Perrone’s TONY (To Navigate You) technology that converts the shuttle to fully automated capabilities for operations in the Navy Yard. The shuttle can seat nine passengers plus a wheelchair, aside from the operator. The wheelchair ramp feature will be accessible from a standard roadside curb.

The AV shuttle is expected to commence in summer 2022.

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Media Contacts:

DVRPC: Elise Turner, Manager, Office of Communications and Engagement

eturner@dvrpc.org / 215-435-0379 (cell)

PIDC: Jennifer Tran, Director, Navy Yard Marketing and Communications

jtran@PIDCphila.com / 215-218-2854

PennDOT: Erin Waters-Trasatt, Communications Director

ewaterstra@pa.gov / 717-873-8800

PIDC welcomes the Dominion Energy team on Nov 1!

Navy Yard Electric Utility Transitions Operations to Dominion Energy

November 1, 2021/in Energy, News, Tenants /by The Navy Yard

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.

Michael Kennedy Dedicates Battery Storage Project at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

August 12, 2021/in Energy, Events, Press Releases /by The Navy Yard

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.

PNY Comm Solar Project Revzilla Project 7-25-17

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

May 19, 2021/in Energy, Press Releases /by The Navy Yard

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.”

“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.”

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.

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

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Every day is Earth Day at the Navy Yard!

April 21, 2020/in Community, Energy, Events, Fun, Sustainability, Tenants /by The Navy Yard

Today, the Navy Yard is a catalyst for innovation in the region and a national model for sustainability. Our assets and infrastructure make it a uniquely attractive place for businesses, with an emphasis on development, energy efficiency, and sustainability. We offer the region’s most densely populated collections of privately-owned LEED-certified buildings, a 35-megawatt unregulated electric grid, an innovative network of stormwater technologies, and events to celebrate our community’s efforts in sustainability.

HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS

PIDC strongly encourages the design and construction of high-performance, sustainable buildings at the Navy Yard. We require our partners to construct highly sustainable projects that in most instances include LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certifications, the rating system created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). In total, the Navy Yard has 17 LEED certified buildings, including Philadelphia’s first developer-owned LEED Platinum building built in 2005 at One Crescent Drive, and Philadelphia’s first double LEED Platinum building built in 2013, Five Crescent Drive for GSK, in CS – Core & Shell and CI – Core & Interiors.

BUILDING RE-USE

PIDC and several private development partners have renovated many of the former Marine and Navy officers’ quarters and historic buildings. These now provide beautiful, historic, and eclectic office space to a wide variety of commercial tenants. Notable projects include:

URBN Corporate Headquarters that incorporates unused rail lines as an organizing system for pedestrian paths, concrete and asphalt from old parking lots (dubbed “Barney Rubble” by the project’s landscape architect) was broken up and reused as landscaping fill, and in the large, publicly accessible amenities building, pipe-bending pits now serve as ponds where water lilies grow and koi swim, overseen by a tranquil Buddha.
Former Marine Barrack and Admiral Quarters on Broad Street and along the river that have been redeveloped into office spaces, that in total are home to over 50 different businesses & nonprofits.
Building 661 is an adaptive reuse of a former officers’ recreation hall with a gymnasium and pool shuttered in 1995, retrofitted to be an energy efficient research campus for Penn State at the Navy Yard.

TRANSPORTATION & BIKE SHARE

Offering multiple options to get around the Navy Yard is a top priority. We operate two free bus routes that allow employees and visitors easy access from Center City and from NRG Station on the Broad Street Subway Line. In 2018, Indego Bike Share expanded into the neighborhood with stations located at Crescent Park (Rouse Boulevard & Crescent Drive), Central Green (12th Street & Normandy Place), and 15th Street & Kitty Hawk Avenue that connect to Broad & Pattison. Additionally, we installed SAE Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers on 13th Street between Intrepid Avenue and Normandy Place.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Working closely with the Philadelphia Water Department’s Watersheds Initiative, the Navy Yard has piloted the use of innovative stormwater management systems. Examples of demonstrated improvements include rain gardens, sidewalk and landscape buffers, and drainage swales, all of which prevent considerable levels of runoff from reaching city sewers.

GREEN OPEN SPACE

Covering 1,200 acres, the Navy Yard’s Master Plan currently provides over 20 acres of parks and a mile of waterfront trail with more to come. These parks preserve green space providing opportunities for employees and visitors to stretch their legs, expand their minds, and enjoy the outdoors.

The historic 8-acre Marine Parade Grounds along Broad Street was the birthplace of naval aviation. In 1911, Lt. Alfred Cunningham became the first marine to fly when he constructed a ramp at one end of the grounds and drove a plane successfully up the ramp and into sustained flight. Now the Marine Parade Grounds are host to weekend charity festivals and 5k races, weeknight recreational sports leagues, the weekly Lunch Truck Lineup food truck event, and much more!

At 500 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 25.5 feet deep, Dry Dock 1 was not large enough to accommodate modern naval vessels. Made of timber piling, it became obsolete as a workspace and was converted into Dry Dock Park, designed by D.I.R.T. Studio. Dry Dock Park sits at the heart of the Urban Outfitters’ campus and is a great location for lunch and dog watching.

PROGRAMMING & INITIATIVES

As sustainability becomes more of an everyday intention in our daily lives, the Navy Yard continues to support and grow innovative green initiatives. We are a certified arboretum, which enhances our ongoing preservation and protection of trees, shrubs, perennials, and wildlife at the Navy Yard.

Each fall, Navy Yard businesses come together to celebrate our green efforts at the Navy Yard Sustainability Day. At this event, employees and visitors can learn about the ways to become more sustainable, and even bring items for proper recycling and shredding. Last year, we successfully shredded 5,000lbs of paper products, recycled 5,000lbs of electronics, and 500lbs of batteries.

Our physical assets, coupled with the collaborative nature of the Navy Yard’s diverse array of businesses and organizations and the commitment of leadership, make our green community an ideal setting for demonstrating and deploying new ideas, innovative technologies, and never-before-seen partnerships. Every day at the Navy Yard is Earth Day!