Philadelphia’s real estate landscape is rapidly evolving. Shifts in work patterns, the growth of life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and increased expectations for sustainability, affordability, and community impact are reshaping demand. In this environment, successful development requires more than opportunistic execution—it demands patient capital, long-term planning, and the ability to align private investment with public priorities.
That philosophy defines Ensemble’s approach. With more than $2 billion in assets under management and a regional portfolio of over 2.1 million square feet, Ensemble focuses on creating durable real estate platforms that generate lasting economic value. The firm emphasizes high-quality design, placemaking, adaptability, sustainability, and partnership-driven execution, positioning assets to remain competitive as markets and policy priorities evolve. Ensemble operates as a long-term owner and steward, aligning strategy with municipal goals, institutional partners, and regional economic development initiatives. This disciplined approach enables investment at scale while managing risk through diversification, strategic reuse, and thoughtful capital deployment.
The Philadelphia Navy Yard: A Model for Long-Term Value Creation
Ensemble’s work at The Philadelphia Navy Yard exemplifies its development philosophy. Once a decommissioned military base, the 1,200-acre site has been transformed into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood and one of the region’s most significant employment centers, supporting advanced manufacturing, life sciences, R&D, and corporate headquarters. Rooted in progressive, high-quality design and guided by a 20-year master plan within a long-term public-private partnership, the Navy Yard functions as an integrated real estate platform, with investments carefully designed to meet evolving industry needs.
This forward-looking planning has supported diversified tenant demand, economic resilience, and a neighborhood-scale environment with walkable environments and integrated amenities. In 2025, the Navy Yard earned recognition as the largest LEED Neighborhood Development in the United States, with LEED certification across 20 buildings—underscoring its national significance and institutional credibility.
Advancing Public Priorities Through Private Investment
Led by Mark Seltzer and Brian Cohen, Ensemble’s East Coast operations are deeply rooted in the Navy Yard. Over the past two decades, they have played a central role in transforming it into a mixed-use district and are now helping guide its next 20 years of evolution. Ensemble’s approach prioritizes flexible, sustainable, people-centered development that enables Philadelphians to live, work, and thrive.
Collaboration with public partners is a central component of Ensemble’s strategy. The firm sponsors job training programs through organizations, including the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, creating pathways for local residents to enter growing industries. Ensemble also supports small, locally owned businesses through targeted procurement strategies and growth opportunities, ensuring development generates broad-based economic impact.
Delivering impactful development on a neighborhood scale requires alignment across sectors. Ensemble partners with investors and operators, including Oxford Properties Group, Basis Investment Group, MetLife, and Korman Communities, while coordinating with fellow developers, public agencies, and advisors to secure institutional capital and ensure that long-term vision and execution remain aligned.
A Disciplined Model for Regional Investment
Ensemble believes that real estate value is created through long-term relevance, not short-term optimization. By designing high-quality, flexible assets and districts that can adapt to changing market conditions, tenant needs, and economic cycles, the firm mitigates risk and enhances the durability of returns. In Philadelphia, this approach has produced a portfolio anchored by strong institutional partnerships, diversified tenant demand, and projects that function as economic catalysts for surrounding communities. Ensemble’s ability to align capital, public objectives, and execution at both the district and building scale offers a compelling model for development in complex, evolving markets.
As the region continues to grow and transform, Ensemble remains focused on deploying capital where infrastructure, policy alignment, and long-term fundamentals support sustained economic performance – creating value for investors, partners, and the communities it serves.
