One of the restored, historic buildings at The Navy Yard that serves Urban Outfitters. Photo Credit: Alex Wilson
Many of the most progressive development projects today are occurring on sites where large-scale master planning is possible. That has often been the case where military bases are shut down. The Navy Yard may be the most successful such project yet.
Robert A.M. Stern Architects led the master planning process in 2004, and that plan has just been revised with the 2013 Update. Sustainability is a big part of the Master Plan, and that has been driven in part by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s goal to make Philadelphia the nation’s greenest large city. It’s an impressive plan and well-presented in an online document.
via The Navy Yard at the Forefront of Philly’s Green Rebirth – BuildingGreen.
An artist’s rendering of preliminary plans for Urban Outfitters’ $100 million Devon Yard complex, as viewed from the northeast. (Image courtesy of Urban Outfitters)
Urban Outfitters has been a visionary retailer and would not be a cookie-cutter developer, Ziel promised.
“When you see a lifestyle center you often see a Chico’s, a J. Crew, a Cheesecake Factory. That’s not what we’re about,” he said. “We wanted to take this really unique environment and mix it with the right tenants to create a consistent experience, a place where people will want to come and stay for a while.”
He said his company would take its usual “reclaimed natural materials, found objects approach” to construction. The hotel will be made with Amish stonemasons. “Our attention to detail and authenticity is bar none. Everything will look like it’s been there a long time,” he promised.
via Urban Outfitters plans Devon Yard, a lifestyle village at former Waterloo Gardens’ Devon site – Main Line Times – Main Line Media News.
Reclamation Administration: News and Research on Building Material Waste Prevention