Schuylkill Gateway

Philadelphia

The section of the Schuylkill River that flows between the University of Pennsylvania Campus, its academic neighbor Drexel and Center City on the opposite bank was an ill-defined and underutilized no-man's land. Ken Greenberg was engaged in 2002 by the University of Pennsylvania with a team led by Economic Consultants HR&A with Sasaki Associates to establish an appropriate development vision for the Schuylkill Gateway Project. Working with major stakeholders the goal was to create a development framework that was both visionary and capable of implementation, with phased infrastructure investments to support the vision. Key objectives were:

  • Create an integrated environment that ties together both banks of the Schuylkill River.

  • Foster a "Knowledge City" that mixes campus uses into the life of the city to create a vibrant year-round district for living, working, learning, shopping, culture and entertainment.

  • Develop the public realm as a framework that creates a sense of place, connects destinations, and creates value for future investment while allowing flexibility for the future.

  • Celebrate the unique context provided by the topography, layers of the industrial past, existing buildings, and special features such as the High Line, the 30th Street Train Station, the Post Office, the bridges, and the river.

  • Create a network of streets and pedestrian connections that emphasize local circulation, access to and from the train station and transit system, and links to Center City and University City.

  • Use an incremental approach to development that builds on recent investments and initiatives in the core areas on both banks of the river and works over time toward the river and future development areas to the north and south.