THE PHILLY FILES
WOODER & WHISKEY WITH MICHAEL & CHUCK
Philly’s Finest!
Welcome to the second edition of The Philly Files. We’re excited to continue to celebrate our authentic Philly love through this platform and roll out our Project Updates to showcase the diversity of practice areas in our work. In this issue, we are highlighting our successes and how we are transforming the built environment in Philadelphia and beyond. Our office focus has been to land high-impact projects and projects of scale that fuel growth, inspire our people, and position us as industry leaders, having a strong voice in our city.
Our project feature, CCMG ‘in the clouds’ is a story about growth - a unique project with an expansion mindset and goals for CCMG to hold +/- 30 events in the next four months. In this issue, we would also like to celebrate our project successes, such as 2222 Market Street as the winner
of the west market development 2023 Commercial Real Estate project of the year.
In Volume 2, we are also celebrating our impact. Impact is about being transformational; transforming the built environment through working with our clients who are changing Philadelphia as partners for these world-class projects. We have partnered with our clients to help them make a change and we have helped them with their commitment to the city that we are all proud of. Our office has also committed to community impact and are inspiring one another through our CI work. Our Philly future looks bright and we are excited for the impact to come from our office.
Michael & Chuck
Staff PicksSUMMER PLAYLIST
“lately I’ve been listening
“Soak
“Summertime
up the Sun, Sheryl Crow”
“The Joker by Steve Miller Band”
“AOK by Tai Verdes”
- DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince”
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
“Call me Maybe”
“Feels
“Cruel Summer by Bananarama”
like SummerChildish Gambino”
“Stir it Up - Bob Marley”
Staff Picks SUMMER MEMORIES
“ “ Every four years my family gets a beach house in Charleston with all 20 of us under one roof
“ “ Playing capture the flag with the neighborhood kids
“ “ Visiting Ogunquit, Maine!
“ “
Camping out for a week with my grandparents by the ocean, and giving the stone pavers shaped like feet in their yard their annual pedicure!
“ “
Time with family friends on Star Lake, Wisconsin
“ “ 9W pool with the family
“
Swimming and riding our bikes to the college bookstore for candy (sour watermelon gummies and peach rings) with my childhood best friend and siblings
“
“
LBI! Which meant ice cream at the Show Place
“ Create a walking Architecture tour of Philadelphia
“and the livin’s easy”
“ Helping my sister decorate her house
“ “
“ “ Building a house :)
Train for the MS City to Shore Bike Race
“
“
“ Finally learn to garden, grow some veggies!
“ Would love to make a planter and table for my tiny but mighty outdoor patio
“
“ We just
finished our patio, deck, and front walk, so we are broke, but have the best yard in the ’hood
“ Make some paintings for my sister
What is GPHL up to this summer?
Grilled Guac! Just lightly grill all the components (except cilantro), and mix for a smoky flavor!
for the grill, of course!
Lets do some burgers, wings, ribs...
Broccoli with garlic & Montreal Steak seasoning, in an open container, roasted on the grill!
and favorite recipes!
Pickles are awesome if you grill the veggies first!
Clean your grill with an onion and it will flavor your food and make it clean
Seafood on the grill - lobster tails, clams, oysters... YUM!
CLARK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GROUP
Amidst Philadelphia’s skyline, Clark Capital Management Group undergoes a transformative renovation, embracing a visionary design inspired by the ethereal beauty of the clouds and the enduring legacy of the firm.
In the heart of downtown Philadelphia, nestled atop the historic One Liberty Place building is the iconic Clark Capital Management Group (Clark Capital) office. Perched on the 53rd and 54th floors, this renowned financial services firm debuted a space that reflects their remarkable journey of growth after years of being named a Top Place to Work by the Philadelphia Business Journal and Asset Manager of the Year by Barron’s and the Money Management Institute.
CAPITAL GROUP
“Clark Capitals’s culture of care is at the forefront of our new
office’s design,”
said CEO Brendan Clark. “With many collaboration spaces, Harry’s café, and several places to pour a coffee and have a conversation, our new office reflects the very human, very caring, experience of working with and at Clark Capital.”
Once confined to the 53rd floor, Clark Capital found itself primed for expansion as the firm quickly grew. The time had come for a revitalization—an investment in the firm’s future and Philadelphia. This pivotal moment was an opportunity for Clark Capital to invest in its culture and its physical environment. Envisioning a space that exuded the firm’s closeknit culture and pride, Clark Capital sought the expertise of Gensler. With 37,000 square feet spanning both floors, the Gensler team embarked on a design journey inspired by the ethereal sensation of being amongst the clouds.
The design leverages the soaring heights of the building and the breathtaking views of Philadelphia below. Material selections, finishes, and spatial configurations were curated to evoke a sense of weightlessness and airiness, a stark departure from the traditional walnut-clad confines of the past.
The iconic architecture of the building, with its sloping perimeter glass and angular floor plates, became a canvas for Gensler to unlock their creative potential. Public zones were strategically stacked along the west side of both floors, maximizing access to the panoramic views while fostering connectivity and collaboration.
Central to the design narrative is the connecting stair, positioned where Founder and Executive Chairman
Harry Clark’s original office stood—a symbolic bridge between the firm’s original and expanded spaces. Here, his laser-cut signature immortalizes his legacy, while the sailing-inspired geometries imbued a subtle nod to the Clark family’s nautical passions.
“For almost 40 years, we’ve sought to exceed the expectations of advisors and their clients,” said Harry Clark, from his new office on the 54th floor. “As a 100% employee-owned firm, we created a world-class space that embodies Clark Capital’s commitment to asset management excellence.”
Throughout the office, nods to maritime elements abound, from brass accents to classical details reminiscent of ship hardware. Custom light fixtures crafted by local artisans further accentuated the
bespoke nature of the space, casting a warm glow on key gathering areas.
As employees and visitors step off the elevator onto the 53rd floor, their gaze is immediately drawn to the connecting stair, inviting them on a journey of discovery and renewal. Ascending to the upper landing, reminiscent of a ship’s bow, one is greeted by a mirrored ceiling, magnifying the allure of the outside world.
This transformative endeavor is not merely a physical renovation but a catalyst for the future evolution of Clark Capital. It symbolizes a new era of innovation and growth, where tradition meets modernity, and every detail reflects the firm’s commitment to excellence. With its lofty perch atop One Liberty Place, Clark Capital’s new office stands as a beacon of inspiration, guiding the firm into uncharted horizons with confidence and grace.
The space communicates a sense of family and passion for people, a respite, a home away from home perched within the clouds.
Throughout the office, nods to maritime elements, from brass accents to classical details reminiscent of ship hardware. Custom light fixtures crafted by local artisans further accentuated the bespoke nature of the space, casting a warm glow on key gathering areas.
CAFE
ELEV LOBBY
KAIT JOHNSON
Kait Johnson has had a busy year - from personal passions, co-leading community impact, to a project close to us all. She has been working in the Philadelphia office since 2017 and recently took on the Office renovation seeing the project through from concept design to move in. Sean Carlin and Emily Wylie sat down with Kait to talk a little about the project and his life.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up here in Philadelphia?
Sure. I grew up in Rhode Island was born and raised there, most of my family is from that area. When I was little, I was a homebody and never thought I would leave. I ended up coming out to Philly to look for schools and I really liked Philly U which is now Jefferson, but came down here to go to design school which was a shift since I was a ballerina my entire life. I ended up stopping dance when I came to college but walked past the rowing table at an open house event and signed up. I rowed all four years in design school and started interning here at Gensler inbetween my junior and senior year. I’d worked briefly for a design-build contractor the year before that just doing a little work in Rhode Island but Gensler was my first real design job as an internship and then I got hired full time and I’ve been here ever since, May 30th was my sixth year, full time anniversary.
Great, let’s start with some fun questions. If you were the only human left on earth, what would you do?
Johnson
Oh my gosh, that’s a hard one. I would have to say I would plan to find ways to live more in line with nature. With no humans left, being out in nature, be with animals, and recognize the earth sounds nice. Living in the city, we don’t have time or access to true nature with the exception of a few parks here and there.
What is the top destination destination on your must visit list?
I have a domestic list and an international list. In the US, I have always wanted to go to Sedona, Arizona. I grew up with pretty crunchy granola parents, my senior thesis was based in Sedona focused on alternate health & wellness and Designer In Philadelphia
Kaitlyn
Community Impact Co-Leader
Creative Outlets
Kait travels with her family to Guatamala to build houses every December
Right: Kait’s most recent pottery creation
Community Impact Event to make sandwiches for Germantown community fridge
Gensler Philly Office Reno
learning/healing experiences. I got to research all of the electromagnetic lay lines and the energy vortex there, plus I would love the natural beauty and hiking. I’ve always wanted to go and have never had a chance. Internationally, I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand. I think the culture is fasctinating and love the food, plus Sean is really big into Muay Thai and I would want to visit Lumpinee to see a match.
A what fictional place would you like to, would you most like to visit?
Middle Earth, from Lord of the Rings. My family was big into reading together so we read all of the books every night instead of watching TV, we were little at the time and my parents read chapters to
use. We did Harry Potter too, but Lord of the Rings was the first true adult series we did together. J.R.R. Tolkien had this optimisic view where things ended nicely which you don’t always get these days.
What are you listening to right now? Do you have a favorite album?
I recently discovered the band The Happy Fits, have been enoying that music. Obviously T-Swift since tortured poets came out. I listened to the first part and it didn’t feature any Lana, so it got me back into Lana Del Rey too.
During the Office expansions what was your favorite part?
Lot of cooks in the kitchen on Office projects,
so having a strong and clear perspective was sometimes hard, but the best part was honestly construction, which is funny because I don’t usually love CA. We had a good GC partner that was easy to talk to and having them right next door was helpful. You could walk over and talk to them whenever it was needed, this was by-far my closest project.
What was the most challenging?
The most difficult thing has been hearing every bit of criticism on the project and space. It’s harder to hear when you live in the space after, with clients its a controlled feedback because they are separated and it’s specific communication. Living in the space afterwards is a bit difficult as you constantly hear where things fell short or are not quite working yet. We’re still in the shakedown period now which allows us to look at our behaviors and adjust as neccessary.
What was the biggest lesson you took away
from the project?
The power of taking ownership of decisionmaking. We were such a small team, Alex and I in CA, so I was having the conversations, weighing what was best and it was helpful. It takes a few projects and a bit of time to be comfortable as the primary point person in CA. Finally, you’re like “OK, I know what I’m doing, I can give you a response, maybe it’s not a specific answer, but I can bring my life knowledge to this and get us to a good answer”.
Can you share your favorite career high point? Office expansion. It’s a recent project, but so cool to work on it, have our first Red Party and be able to walk everybody through the space and share my knowledge. With COVID, I’ve never seen my projects fully finished, celebrate the end, or been to an opening party or celebration. So cool to celebrate our expansion with everyone.
Kait Rowing for Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University)
Gensler Phillys Office brought to the finish line by Kait
TRENDSPOTTING
with Designer Laura Price
Bolete Occasional Table
Andreu World
Draper Table Collection
Hightower
Lucca Height Adjustable Table (Gensler Designed)
Azusa Table Series
Martin Brattrud
Summer Palettes
Summer Palette by Philadelphia Designer Ashley Richardson
Batan Table Collection
Allermuir
Ghia Table Collection
Arper
Serene Summer Palette inspired by Gensler Designed Products by Philadelphia Designer Ashley Richardson
Initiatives & Impact
Jan
Jun Apr Feb
Bonus Day Volunteering Event to help prepare meals for distribution
Look out for these upcoming events
Jul May Mar
Aug
Girls Inc
MANNA
Bartram’s Garden
MYWIC (Mentoring Young Women in Construction) Camp
Sankofa Community Farm Volunteer Day
MLK Day - Red Backpack Donations to The Attic Youth Center (w/ Steelcase)
Laura w/ the Friends of Wissahickon Park Cleanup
The Big Climb @ The Linc for LLS
Gift of Life Howie’s House - Cooking Dinner (w/ Watchdog)
Germantown Fridge Sandwich Making (w/ FDR)
PurOptima
• HQ is in Baltimore
• 75% recycled content of their aluminium
• Ultra low CO2 of 1.9kg of CO2 per 1kg of aluminium billet
• Aluminum tracks and door kits, are sourced from our factory in the UK
• Glass in sources local to the jobsite and the final fabrication and installation of the product is executed in the US
obsessively curious Product
NextGen Emerge Thrive gConnect Realize gMBA
A curriculum focused on developing relationships, professionalism, and understanding Gensler in the market. An
A structured and immersive leadership program for emerging technical leaders.
Invitation Required
current participant
A platform for midcareer leadership development.
Invitation Required
CONGRATULATIONS to Josh Kilian on Passing his ARE’s and becoming a Licensed Architect
Regional Spotlight HIGOR ARRUDA
Higor Aruda || Originally from Brazil, Higor lived in Belem for 5 years. There, he studied architecture, before moving to Florida in 2008, where he pursued a master’s degree in architecture at the University of South Florida. As a recent addition to Gensler’s Tampa office, Higor brings a wealth multicultural experience tothe design team. Higor brings strength and versatility to all of his jobs, delivering powerful multifaceted work.
Let’s start off with a very important question- Beehive or Swiftie
I confess that I had to google this one. Swiftie! Now to be clear, Travis Kelce was already famous before dating her, ok!
Philly’s a sports town - do you have a passion outside of architecture? Sports? Art?? Cooking? How do you unwind after a long day
I have way too many passions outside of Architecture and sports for sure is one of them. I spend a lot of my free time trying to stay up to date with what’s going on around the world of sports (I know way more about sports than pop music). My ‘unwinding’ actually happens before a long day – perhaps is more like ‘clearing the headspace’? I’m an early bird and a triathlon enthusiast, early morning training is like therapy to me.
PHILLY
You moved to Florida from Brazil? Can you talk a little bit about how you ended up in the US? If you could name three things you miss most about Brazil, what are they?
My wife and I moved from Brazil in 2007 to try something new and different. I was a year out of architecture school and had just gotten married so we felt like that was the right time to take on a new challenge. We first moved to Gainesville, FL and in 2008 grad school brought us to Tampa where we have been ever since.
If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.
The things that I miss the most are the 3 F’s… Family, Friends and Food!
Do you have a project you’re most proud of? If so, why?
I’m proud of all of my projects for different reasons, but I am even more proud of the people and relationships I made along the way. With that said, one of my most memorable project was not my most sexy one, but it was the one that opened the doors for me to be where I am today. This was one of those weekend quick burns where the goal was to transform a space under an overpass into a community paddle board storage.
After that, I had the opportunity to work on a multitude of project scales and practice areas ranging from workplace interiors to higher education, COB HQ and spec, hospitality , residential and planning.
You’re leading design on the residential building in Tampa. Is that a new practice area for you? How did you ramp up? Yes, very new to me. The demand for multifamily architecture in Florida shot through the roof especially during COVID, with that came opportunities to work with local developers on projects of this kind. It all started with stick-built garden style apartments and we took that opportunity to learn about the practice area, partner with experts from other G offices and develop our portfolio. Over the last few years the projects started to get more intricate and scope started to grow, until recently, with the help of our LA team we were
Photo
Photo Top Left: “Myteam”Support
able to win Project Sunset in Water Street Tampa. I’m also really proud of this project...
If you could go back in time, what is another job you might pursue?
Probably a personal trainer focusing on high performance athletes
call me maybe....
What’s a talent you have that people might not know about?
I’m pretty good with arts and craft. I’m the official gift wrapper at my house
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done outside of work?
– I’ve finished 3 70.3 Ironman races (AKA Half IM), still planning for a full distance IM at some point in the near future. I also have a dream to run all six major marathons one day. P.s. There are places in Brazil that the simple act of driving can be considered pretty adventurous ...
What’s the funniest or most memorable moment in your Gensler career?
My most memorable moment at Gensler was not a very pleasant one, but the story is too long to write. It has to do with a crazy client request when I was working on “The Ark at JFK” but I’ll leave it at that. Oh! I also have a funny one that happened with Tim Taylor and I during the Lynn University project in Boca Raton, FL. So if you want to know more about these stories just reach out, they will make it for a good conversation starter.
How can we support each other and work together to navigate these times of uncertainty we see ourselves in?
I think it is important to develop an office/studio culture where people feel an integral part of it which by default increases their buy-in . This is easier said than done and it can take a long time for it to organically manifest but stablishing open communication practices, being inclusive and giving people space to be heard as well as being there when your team needs you the most will create a safe space and generate trust therefore creating a more resilient team.
when i home...work@i ride.. height adjustable
Updates Project
Sheraton University City
PHASE: CD
“The Sheraton University City is a 332 key hotel that serves as a touchdown point for families and students visiting University of Pennsylvania. Our design approach for the guestrooms and public spaces aim to create warm and inviting spaces that reflect the UPenn spirit while also celebrating the cities touchstones of humility, art, innovation, and science. The project is divided into two phases: Phase one involved the design and construction of two model rooms, and Phase two encompasses the complete renovation of all the guestrooms and public areas. Since the building was built in the early 1970’s, we’ve had a few challenges with existing conditions and code compliance, while also trying to stay within a conservative budget.”
BucknellTaylor Hall
PHASE: END OF SD
Taylor Hall was the first building of Bucknell University’s campus, and our project is an interior and exterior renovation. Exterior work includes restoring the façade and adding a new central glazing section between the two wings; interior work includes a full fit-out to turn the building into a hub for 5 different groups – Marketing & Communications, Entrepreneurship, Data Science, BCSE (Bucknell Center for Sustainability & the Environment), and a Makerspace. The spaces will include workspace for faculty and staff as well as a lot of collab space for students to work together.
Glenmede
PHASE: CONSTRUCTION
Construction is well underway in this ~65,000 SF tenant fitout, in the iconic One Liberty Place. At about 40% current progress, Substantial Completion is slated for December.
The Waylen
PHASE: Bidding
The Waylen is a 223 key hotel located in Philadelphia’s historic Navy Yard. Partnered with offices across the SE Region and NYC, we delivered architectural and interior design services.
Developers detail name, brand and timeline for 223-key luxur y hotel at Nav y Yard
The project is currently in the Bidding/Estimating phase, which includes discussions around Value Engineering to bring the project in line with the Owner’s budget. Early Demolition and Abatement is complete at the existing building. We are hoping to finalize the GMP by the end of June with construction starting ASAP. The Owner wants to open the Hotel for business in 2026.
VIEW SLIDESHOW 4 photos
PHASE: Completed
Philadelphia Business Journal has recently declared 2222 Market St the 2023 Project of the Year!
2023 PROJECT OF THE YEAR
2222 Market St in Philadelphia
MIKE CHAWAGA/ROBOTIC IMAGING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
By Lisa Dukart – Associate Editor, Philadelphia Business Journal
Mar 21, 2024
former surface parking lot, which Parkway assembled from several buildings with the long-term goal of one day developing it.
“Rob Zuritsky and his Parkway Corp have constructed one of the best new office buildings in Philadelphia in the last 15 years,” said BET Investments President Michael Markman, who ser ved as one of this year’s Best Real Estate Deals judges. “In a down office market, they have built an architecturally signific ant building that will revitalize a stretch of Market Street that was previously neglected ”
Union @ Subaru Park
PHASE: PRE-DESIGN
Gensler’s work with the Philadelphia Union has started to make a splash in the local news. Originally contracted for pre-design feasibility studies, it was recently announced that Gensler has officially won the project moving forward. Schematic Design begins in June.
PROJECT SUMMARIES
The Union want to expand Subaru Park, but know it won’t be easy: ‘We want to be better, bigger’
It's Major League Soccer's fourth-smallest stadium, and it's far behind other soccer venues for luxury seating. But there's limited room for more parking, and public transit access is a headache.
Philadelphia Union bring on Gensler to study Subaru Park
Philadelphia Union President Tim McDermott has hired architecture rm Gensler to "study how to expand Subaru Park, " according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Subaru Park's backdrop is “one of MLS’s prettiest, ” featuring the Commodore Barry Bridge, and this season is “on track to be the second straight where every
Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Union's Subaru Park is one of the smallest stadiums in Major League Soccer, and doesn't have much premium seating to make the team money
FurniturePitcairn, 3935, Wharton
Pitcairn is a financial services headquarters in Conshohocken, PA. The look and feel concept of “Golden Hour” juxtaposed with Pitcairn’s brand blue are the prominent notes in this furniture palette. The team is also planning for selective reuse of classic pieces in the client’s current space.
Several spaces are under renovation at the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, including a front-ofhouse lounge area and student-facing departments in iconic buildings across the campus.
3935 Walnut is student-facing workplace space on University of Pennsylvania’s campus. The palette uses Penn’s colors with playful pops of pattern on ancillary furniture throughout.
Editors: Laura Price, Kristen Petrilak, Madeleine Crippen, Evan Todtz, Alexa Sternberger, Emily Wylie, Annie Portner, Laura Thal, Ryan Glick, Sean Carlin, Josh Kilian, Kaitlin Johnson, Ashley Richardson Oversight: Michael Resnic, Chuck Rudalavage