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Groundbreaking ceremony with Ensemble/Mosaic, Oxford, PIDC, and Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson

Ensemble/Mosaic and Oxford Properties Group Break Ground on Speculative R & D Lab Building

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Ensemble/Mosaic, a joint venture between Ensemble Real Estate Investments and Mosaic Development Partners, and Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford”), a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and business builder, have broken ground on 1201 Normandy Place, a speculative 137,000 square foot R & D lab building at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. The project represents the first new development initiated as part of Ensemble/Mosaic and Oxford’s recently executed strategic partnership.

“1201 Normandy represents a significant milestone for the Navy Yard, our new partnership with Mosaic and Oxford, and Philadelphia’s life sciences community,” said Mark Seltzer, Senior Vice President, Development-East at Ensemble. “The building will play a critical role in the life science ecosystem of the campus by creating space for smaller gene and cell therapy users and providing a place to grow as their business evolves towards commercialization and manufacturing. This is the right product, at the right time in the right location, and we are already experiencing strong interest.”

1201 Normandy Place

“The Navy Yard is a critical asset to Philadelphia’s life science community,” said Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, whose Second Council District includes the Navy Yard.  “The development of this new 137,000 square foot laboratory and office building here at 1201 Normandy Place is the first development by Ensemble Real Estate Investments and Mosaic Development Partners.  The lab building is tailored specifically to gene and cell therapy companies and will further drive economic growth at the Navy Yard, which is a major economic engine of our city.”

1201 Normandy Place is the first speculative multi-tenant R & D lab building at the Navy Yard. The building was designed in consultation with CRB, a leading lab designer, to be the most sophisticated lab building in the region optimized for cell and gene therapy R & D companies, while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate all users. The modern four-story facility will feature 137,000 square feet of highly customizable lab space and will be able to support life science customers ranging from 5,000-35,000 square feet per floor. Special user-specific considerations include 15’-16’ floor-to-floor ceiling heights, predetermined GMP space, structural integrity that minimizes vibration and two loading docks. The robust utility and safety features include a central plant HVAC system with water cooled chillers, customizable electrical output and layout as well as built-in emergency power. Occupants will also have access to collaborative workspace, an outdoor balcony on each floor and a ground level cafe. The building is projected to achieve LEED Gold Certification.  CBRE is leading the marketing  efforts for 1201 Normandy Place.

“Today’s groundbreaking builds on our partnership’s considerable momentum, as we take a major step towards delivering a world-class life science innovation hub at the heart of the Navy Yard,” said Chad Remis, Executive Vice President, North America at Oxford. “The speed at which we’ve advanced this project is testament to the relationship between Oxford and Ensemble/Mosaic—in both our vision for the project, as well as our shared conviction in Philadelphia and its continued emergence as one of the premier global biopharma markets.”

1201 Normandy will allow smaller-scale gene and cell therapy companies to take space in the Navy Yard’s thriving life science community. Currently, it is home to many world-class and well-established gene and cell therapy firms including Iovance Biotherapeutics, Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC, WuXi Advanced Therapies Coriell Life Sciences, Vinta Bio, Inc., and is the regional headquarters of Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

“The depth of our collective development experience, this unparalleled location and our ability to move quickly are tremendous advantages for us,” said Greg Reaves, CEO and Co-Owner, Mosaic. “We designed 1201 Normandy to be at the leading edge of R & D lab space, offering customers superior utility packages and safety features. This building will truly be transformational to the life science community and the Navy Yard as a whole.”

Groundbreaking ceremony with Ensemble/Mosaic, Oxford, PIDC, and Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson

Ensemble/Mosaic and Oxford

Recently, Ensemble/Mosaic and Oxford Properties Group entered into a strategic partnership which will, over time, own and develop up to 3 million square feet of life science properties at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. The agreement includes Oxford’s investment in five existing life science assets owned by Ensemble Real Estate Investments, and Ensemble/Mosaic’s two initial life science properties, of which 1201 Normandy is the first. In addition, Oxford will look to partner in all future life science projects on sites controlled by Ensemble/Mosaic at the Navy Yard. The deal represented Oxford’s first investment in Philadelphia and further expands the firm’s extensive life science portfolio, which includes over US$2 billion of investment activity in North America since the start of 2021.

PIDC Senior Vice President Kate McNamara considers the Ensemble/Mosaic and Oxford partnership a boon that will help continue to grow the ecosystem of the Navy Yard.

“Developing a speculative life science building that can house multiple users illustrates the strength of the market in Philadelphia and the strong interest by companies to take advantage of all the Navy Yard has to offer,” said McNamara. “This is a big milestone for the Navy Yard, Ensemble/Mosaic, Oxford, and PIDC that will create a landscape for lifesaving work and job opportunities for all Philadelphians. We’re at an important intersection of what the city needs and what will benefit the world, and it’s an exciting moment.”

Ensemble/Mosaic at the Navy Yard

In 2020, Ensemble/Mosaic announced plans for its US$2.6 billion development plan, designed to further establish the Navy Yard as a vibrant and inclusive mixed-use community. Through its agreement with PIDC—Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation, which oversees all management and development of the Navy Yard, the joint venture plans for approximately 3,000 residential units and more than 3 million square feet of life science manufacturing, R & D, office, hotels, makerspace and retail space when complete. In addition to 1201 Normandy and 333 Rouse, the $400+ million first phase includes the development a three-building residential complex with ground floor retail (including an AVE in partnership with Korman Communities) and a signature adaptive reuse hotel.

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