Philadelphia Navy Yard sets LEED-ND record

Ensemble and Mosaic lead 295-acre redevelopment

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Ensemble Investments (Ensemble) and Mosaic Development Partners (Mosaic) announced that a significant portion of the Philadelphia Navy Yard has become officially certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as the largest LEED Neighborhood Development (ND) in the United States, achieving LEED-ND Gold Certification. Philadelphia’s first LEED-ND spanning multiple buildings encompasses 295 acres of the Navy Yard containing 39 existing buildings and 38 buildings-to-be developed. The LEED-ND area covers a majority of the Navy Yard land east of Broad St. and includes all of Ensemble’s existing buildings and the 110 acres that Ensemble and Mosaic, in partnership with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), are developing as part of the transformation of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

The Navy Yard is a 1,200-acre business community where 150 companies occupy over 7.5 million s/f of office, industrial/manufacturing, and research and development space. Politico has called the Navy Yard, “the coolest shipyard in America,” and many industry observers, including the Urban Land Institute, have recognized the community as a leading model for repurposing military and industrial assets to attract a diverse set of companies and institutions.

In 2022, Ensemble, Mosaic, and PIDC unveiled an ambitious 20-year plan for the Navy Yard to leverage the Navy Yard’s past corporate successes and transform the property into Philadelphia’s newest neighborhood, including residential, office, research & development, advanced manufacturing, retail, and hospitality. Ensemble and Mosaic’s portion of the 2022 plan includes 8,000,000 s/f of LEED-certified buildings, 3 million s/f of which is earmarked for the development of life science facilities, through a strategic partnership with Oxford Properties, a global real estate investor, developer, and manager.

This year, the Navy Yard will welcome the first non-military residents in its history with the introduction of AVE Navy Yard, a $285M mixed-use development comprised of a two-building complex including 614 apartments and 25,000 sf of retail, which Ensemble and Mosaic are developing in partnership with Korman Communities. The LEED-ND certification clearly cements the Navy Yard as the most sustainable and forward-thinking neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia.

The effort to achieve LEED-ND by Ensemble and Mosaic ensures that the Navy Yard development will reduce energy and water consumption, provide safe sidewalks and accessible public transit options, promote preservation and adaptive reuse, and focus on the health and wellness of the people who live, work, and visit the Navy Yard. A key element evidencing the commitment to providing a unique and exceptional experience for all is that all existing and planned buildings are within a half-mile walking distance of a park or recreation area, giving the thousands of residents and employees at the Navy Yard access to green space.

The LEED-ND Gold certification recognizes and certifies that the highest levels of responsible and sustainable development, as well as the successful protection and enhancement of overall health, natural environment, and quality of life, have been reached.

“Although Re:Vision has consulted to help many individual buildings at the Navy Yard achieve a high level of sustainability, the LEED Neighborhood Development work means the commitment to sustainable practices does not end at the building, but it extends to everything in between,” said Scott Kelly, founding partner of the Sustainable Design Consultant firm of Re:Vision Architecture. “As more companies and people move to the Navy Yard, this certification provides validation that we are located in a built environment that is healthy, responsible, and vibrant.”

To achieve LEED-ND Gold certification, Ensemble, Mosaic, and Re:Vision addressed requirements in three categories: Green Infrastructure & Buildings: This credit category focuses on measures that can reduce the environmental consequences of the construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Sustainable building technologies minimize waste and use energy, water, and materials more efficiently than conventional building practices.

Smart Location & Linkage: This credit category focuses on a selection of sites that minimize the adverse environmental effects of new development and avoid contributing to sprawl and its consequences. To reduce the impact of sprawl and create more livable communities, preference is given to locations close to existing town and city centers, sites with good transit access, infill sites, previously developed sites, and sites adjacent to existing developments.

Neighborhood Pattern & Design: This credit category emphasizes the creation of compact, walkable, vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods with good connections to nearby communities. These neighborhoods provide many essential advantages to residents, employees, visitors, and the environment.

Unprecedented Scale and Environmental Efficiency: As the most extensive LEED Neighborhood Development in the United States, the Navy Yard sets a new standard for eco-conscious urban design. The site’s sheer size allows for sweeping environmental improvements—cutting energy use, enhancing air and water quality, and minimizing carbon emissions across a footprint that serves thousands of employees, residents, and visitors. This expansive approach makes it a nationwide model for sustainable growth.

Integrated, High-Value Solutions: The Navy Yard’s design leverages every opportunity to layer sustainability with functionality. Green infrastructure, like rainwater gardens and extensive tree canopies, captures stormwater while beautifying the community. Strategic building placement reduces urban heat and optimizes natural light, creating workspaces that are environmentally sound and enhance productivity and health. This approach generates interlinked benefits that are only possible at a neighborhood scale. Long-Lasting Impact with Compounding Returns: A development like the Navy Yard produces sustainable returns far beyond typical investments. This LEED-certified infrastructure will continue to reduce operational costs, attract sustainability-minded companies, and add long-term real estate value. By establishing a green blueprint for future urban developments, Ensemble/Mosaic’s work positions Philadelphia as a leader in sustainable urban planning, securing environmental and economic gains that will compound over decades.