NORR Philadelphia, Over a Decade of Navy Yard Experience

From: NORR Design Inc.
Published: Wed Jul 12 2017


NORR Philadelphia celebrates 10+ years of project experience, bringing its integrated approach and versatile expertise to a variety of clients calling the Philadelphia Navy Yard home for a growing number of businesses.

"The revitalization of the Navy Yard is important. It has had a dynamic impact on the workforce of Philadelphia and is now a progressive business community with a population of more than 12,000 employees and a magnet for growth and development." – William Westhafer, Vice President of NORR Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Navy Yard continued to operate as a naval base until September 1996. In 2000, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) acquired control of the Navy Yard. Liberty Property Trust (LPT), a long-term client of NORR’s and developer with decades of experience, unveiled the initial master plan to re-develop the de-commissioned U.S. Naval Base, along with PIDC, back in 2004.

NORR Philadelphia’s architectural team worked with LPT on the implementation of the first new building in the master plan of the Navy Yard, a new office and pilot plant for AppTec Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the predecessor firm to Wuxi AppTec. Wuxi AppTec has flourished in this location, with NORR and LPT again collaborating on a second building for WuXi AppTec at the Commerce Center, another NORR Philadelphia project. A third, 145,000 SF space leased by WuXi AppTec is utilized as a Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacturing Plant, making it the sixth flex building located at the Navy Yard.

In 2010, NORR Philadelphia completed Tasty Baking Company’s Warehouse and Distribution Center which included an educational experience allowing visitors to experience the manufacturing process typically not viewed by the public. Not only does the state-of-the-art facility feature highly automated baking equipment but upon opening, it was the largest LEED™ Silver certified food processing center in the world.

NORR Philadelphia’s Structural Team, led by Steven C. Devine, PE, has contributed to the construction of over 50% of the new developments in the Navy Yard. The Structural Department takes the lead when it comes to making projects structurally sound. 1200 Intrepid, with architecture by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is a 92,000 SF office building curving inward, hugging the circular geometry of the adjacent Central Green Park. Iroko, 150 Rouse Boulevard’s panelized façade system of precast concrete and multiple glass assemblies which were arranged to minimize solar gain while maximizing the panoramic views, is one of many projects completed in partnership with architecture firm DIGSAU. In collaboration with Erdy McHenry Architecture, Axalta, a 170,000 SF Global Innovation Center with views of League Island Park, is expected to be completed in late 2017.

With existing projects set to reach completion by the end of 2017 and new prospects on the way, NORR welcomes and supports the continued growth of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. For more information on NORR’s Navy Yard projects, please visit its website at www.norr.com.
Company: NORR Design Inc.
Contact Name: Jodi Papaleo
Contact Email: jodi.papaleo@norr.com
Contact Phone: 267-283-0265

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