From Vision to Reality: Penn’s Landing Waterfront Park by Hargreaves Jones and KieranTimberlake

Construction has officially commenced at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, marking a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to revitalize its waterfront. This ambitious $430 million project, spanning 11.5 acres, is a collaborative endeavor between landscape and urban design firm Hargreaves Jones and renowned architects KieranTimberlake. Its primary objective is to forge a stronger connection between Philadelphians and the Delaware River by bridging the gap created by Interstate 95.

Penn’s Landing Visionary Endeavor

Upon its completion, Penn’s Landing will boast a network of new pathways guiding pedestrians from the city’s heart to exciting public landscape features, amenities, and attractions seamlessly spanning I-95. Notably, the project will feature a cutting-edge, environmentally conscious central pavilion constructed from mass timber, a design signature of KieranTimberlake. This pavilion is set to achieve LEED Platinum certification. It will serve as a multifunctional hub housing a café, skate rentals, support spaces for seasonal transformations into an ice rink or summer plaza, and offices for the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) park operations team.

The realization of the I-95 CAP project has been years in the making and is spearheaded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), aiming to replace aging infrastructure and create enhanced waterfront access by “decking” over I-95 and Columbus Boulevard to forؤذm this expansive park space.

This visionary Penn’s Landing was initially unveiled by Hargreaves Jones in 2013, but Philadelphia’s vision for waterfront redevelopment dates back even further to 2011, when plans were first conceived to transform the land bordering the Delaware River. Later, Philadelphia-based KieranTimberlake joined the design team, adding their unique touch to the project. The central pavilion they are crafting is poised to become a new landmark for the city, described as “a welcoming gateway to the waterfront and an iconic destination within the park.” It will be designed to accommodate a wide range of special events and activities, aligning with DRWC’s ambitious sustainability goals, including net zero energy consumption and net zero carbon emissions.

KieranTimberlake emphasized that the café within the pavilion will serve as both a public-facing amenity and a pivotal connection point to the park and waterfront. The design process has been a collaborative effort involving Hargreaves Jones Associates and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). As construction advances, Penn’s Landing is destined to evolve into a vibrant and sustainable urban oasis, enriching the lives of Philadelphians and visitors while redefining the city’s relationship with its historic riverfront.