The Philadelphia Navy Yard is in the process of implementing a dramatic revitalization of the Historic Philadelphia Navy Yard, including the creation of new streetscape, parks, and a pedestrian friendly environment. As the first hotel in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Erdy McHenry strived to create a signature building that would uphold the standard of quality that has come to be expected at the Navy Yard.
The design of the Courtyard Navy Yard, consists of a highly customized version of the Marriott Courtyard brand, in response to the surrounding urban feel of the site. Similar to adjacent surrounding buildings the building employs a facade system that animates the building, offering varying layers of color and shadow effects throughout the day. The facility consists of a 5-story, 172 room hotel, with enhanced ground floor dining and bar/lounge facility responding to the anticipated interest from the expanding business community of the Navy Yard.
A primary goal for the project was to create stunning visual impact for the guest from arrival at the hotel through check-out while at the same time incorporating elements that helped to reduce the hotel’s impact on the environment. For instance, the design of the exterior cladding includes an intricately detailed system of clips, panels and insulation that provides interior comfort while reducing the building’s overall heat gain by preventing transfer of heat to the building sub-framing. This in turn reduces the building’s energy consumption. In many ways, this same eye towards sustainability was carried through the interior details of the hotel as well. The hotel has achieved the level of LEED-Certified design.
The design works within the bounds of the Courtyard brand requirements, utilizing the familiar spaces and sequences that one might recognize but incorporates specific gestures meant to highlight various parts of the overall guest experience – the goal being to create memorable experiences that will create a returning customer base.
2014 - AIA Philadelphia Design Award