PRHOn the Waterfront
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by Jennifer Barkowitz photos courtesy of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC)
hiladelphia is the birthplace of our nation’s first Naval Shipyard, however, the Naval Shipyard located at the end of South Broad Street is no longer the same place Philadelphians once knew. Today, The Navy Yard is a dynamic, urban community filled with energy, ideas and rich history built around the needs of people gathered together to do business in a progressive way. HISTORY In 1794, President George Washington signed the Naval Act that called for the construction of six warships to protect and defend our country. Work commenced at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard located on Carpenter Street in the Southwark section of Philadelphia. In 1876, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (PNSY) relocated to League Island on South Broad Street along the Delaware River. During World War II, PSNY employed more than 50,000 people, who constructed and repaired upwards of 1,200 ships. The channel between South Philadelphia and League Island was filled in, creating today’s 1,200-acre Navy Yard. PNSY operated for 120 years before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) ordered PNSY to cease operations in 1996.
TODAY Since 2000, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, has been responsible for the planning, operations and development of The Navy Yard. A comprehensive master plan was developed in 2004, with a 2012 update release this fall, offering a wide range of building types – from historic adaptive reuse to brand new, LEED-certified construction in the office, research & development, and industrial and manufacturing sectors. By the end of 2012, The Navy Yard will house more than 120 companies and 10,000 employees, including the headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline, Urban Outfitters, Inc., Tasty Baking Company and Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, as well as many fast-growing businesses like Mark Group, Iroko Pharmaceuticals and Rhoads Industries. To date, more than $700 million of private investment
has been placed at The Navy Yard. A key element of The Navy Yard’s development strategy is the Smart Energy Campus, incorporating energy-related technologies and demonstration projects, green building construction, innovative stormwater management practices, an expansive park system, sustainability and energy deployment research. The Navy Yard is still home to the Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES), the U.S. Navy’s only organization responsible for shipboard machinery systems research and engineering. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy invested $129 million in The Navy Yard, creating the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub. Visitors can experience the energy and culture of The Navy Yard Monday through Friday, from 6 am to 6 pm. Many public events are planned, as well, including the Philadelphia Horticultural Society ’s Fall Garden Festival, various beer festivals, the Broad Street Run, Vintage Baseball games, recreational sports leagues, Earth Day Bike Tour and URBN s Farmers Market. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the self-guided walking tour, which takes guests through the past and present of The Navy Yard. Winding through
the campus, visitors will pass by old ships and new, green construction, and make their way around the historic buildings and open park spaces, ending on the waterfront by Urban Outfitters campus. Guests can have lunch at Shop 543 or the Jharoka Café inside Building 543. Or place your order from DiNic s Roast Pork and Yardbirds Café. On certain days, food trucks will be parked on the Marine Parade Grounds as part of the new, popular Lunch Truck Lineup. Getting to The Navy Yard is easy and convenient. The new Navy Yard Shuttle offers connecting service from the AT&T Broad Street Subway station to The Navy Yard. Or take advantage of free parking. FUTURE The Navy Yard is an ever-evolving campus with $350 million worth of projects currently under construction or in the development/planning phase, including a Marriott Courtyard hotel, various new construction and historic renovations, and several world-class parks. For more information, or to access the walking tour, visit navyyard.org, or follow The Navy Yard on social media for news, events, photos, and more: facebook.com/thenavyyard and twitter.com/navyyardphila. prh