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PIER 0

Philadelphia Navy Yard Visitor Center & Gallery

Re-purpose of an Abandoned Ship Yard

Site: Navy Yard, Philadelphia.

Building Area: 69,000 ft² 


HOK Design Futures Challenge 1st Place Spring 2018

In Collaboration with Xiangyu Chen

Narrative

The history of the United States Navy in Philadelphia began with the founding of the country. The construction of the first Navy Yard traces back to 1776. It at one point employed more than 40,000 people, refurbished over 1,200 ships and built over 50 new ships including the battleship USS New Jersey. However, Post-Cold War, budget cuts and reduced need led to the decision to close the base in 1991. Major operations ceased in 1995.


How do you acknowledge a discharged shipyard? Build another ship! 


This project aims to tackle issues of building resilience, community, monumentality, and integration of urban space. The oversized gates terminate the Broad St axis and become an icon that attracts attention from both the land and the water. Large elevated outdoor ramps and platforms perform as public space while the building is lifted to deflect potential flooding threats.


Transformation

Site Analysis

The proposal explores its relationship with the surroundings, the history of the Navy Yard, and also its future as a mixed-use community and major destination for Philadelphia. In the area that faces flood threats, it is also crucial to have certain resiliency against nature disasters.  

As a landmark building, it’s important to address its position at the end of the major North-South axis of the city. The scale of the building makes it visible from distance.

How the Building Performs in a Flood

Post-Hurricane Sandy, we are extremely conscious about building resiliency. We imagined what the raised platform elevates the building from the sea level. The gallery is lifted on stilts which protects the art on the inside. As a public gathering place, this building also becomes area of refugee if needed.  

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