PHILADELPHIA--October 18, 2012--Surrounded by City officials and hundreds of guests, Ensemble Hotel Partners, LLC, held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its new, $34 million hotel at The Navy Yard. The spectacular, five-story Courtyard by Marriott is the first hotel to be constructed at The Navy Yard, home to more than 120 companies and 10,000 employees by the end of 2012.

“This new hotel is a great addition to the growing and dynamic business campus being built at The Navy Yard,” said Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “With almost 10,000 employees working at The Navy Yard, this new development will serve the demand of the companies and people located there and will provide a boost for our local economy.”

The Courtyard by Marriott, which is expected to open next year, offers a modern and dramatic design by Erdy McHenry Architects of Philadelphia. INTECH Construction, also of Philadelphia, is the design-build contractor of the 99,000 square foot hotel which will sit on 2.4 acres. When the hotel is complete, it will offer 172 rooms with executive suites, 2,000 square feet of meeting space, upscale restaurant and lounge featuring park views, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. In keeping with The Navy Yard’s commitment to high-quality cutting edge design, the hotel will feature a modern design which will incorporate a rain-screen system comprised of alternating metal panels and glazing. This highly articulated façade will vary in color and shadow depending upon the time of day and intensity of sunlight.

Philadelphia native and co-developer Louis A. Cicalese says the new hotel will be LEED certified for energy efficiency and will provide another great amenity to the The Navy Yard.

Ensemble Chief Operating Officer Ed Proenza stated, “Today’s groundbreaking serves as an exciting opportunity for Ensemble Hotel Partners and signals continued growth at The Navy Yard. Companies and employees need a high quality hotel, restaurant and meeting space. We believe this new hotel will be the centerpiece of future growth.”

The Courtyard by Marriott project was announced last year by Liberty Property/Synterra L.P., a joint-venture between Liberty Property Trust and Synterra Partners, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). Ensemble Hotel Partners, LLC was selected to develop the hotel, which is one of nine projects currently under development at The Navy Yard Corporate Center. The hotel is expected to create nearly 400 construction jobs and 50 permanent full-time positions upon completion.

“The Navy Yard is a magnet for forward-thinking companies and a true workplace of the future,” said John Gattuso, senior vice president and regional director for Liberty Property Trust, the developer of The Navy Yard Corporate Center. “This important amenity will further the emergence of The Navy Yard as the place for companies seeking a dynamic innovative workforce.”

The Courtyard by Marriott is expected to open late 2013. For photos and renderings of the hotel go to www.ensemblehotels.com/#!need|c20bd.