Langan Philadelphia Experience

Langan provides an integrated mix of engineering, environmental consulting and landscape architecture services in support of land development projects, corporate real estate portfolios and the energy industry.  Our clients include developers, property owners, public agencies, corporations, institutions and energy companies around the world. 

Founded in 1970, Langan employs more than 1,200 professionals across 33 offices throughout the United States and abroad, including an office in center city Philadelphia where our local team has helped to reinvent some of the city’s most important public spaces.  A sampling of this experience is showcased throughout this web tour.

Race Street Pier

OVERVIEW
Race Street Pier is one of the first public spaces to be designed and built by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation as part of the new Civic Vision for the Central Delaware Riverfront. Pier 11 was identified as an early action park site and the project was faced with an aggressive schedule, as required by the City.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Clients
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
James Corner Field Operations

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traditional Surveying

Strategic Partners
CHPlanning
VJ Associates


Bartram’s Mile

OVERVIEW
Langan helped the City of Philadelphia transform a one-mile stretch of vacant river frontage along the western banks of the tidal Schuylkill through the extension of the Schuylkill River Trail and the creation of new parks and an innovative neighborhood stormwater management system. Langan was responsible for the conceptual design of the stormwater system; permitting; geotechnical investigation; and final design of all elements of the project, including trail design, traffic engineering, and complete streets design. 

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department

Services
Environmental
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traffic & Transportation
Surveying/Geospatial

Architect
Andropogon Associates


Bridesburg Riverfront Park

OVERVIEW
Langan is leading a team of designers and engineers who are creating a 10-acre park on a paved brownfield on Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront. A varied landscape featuring a central lawn framed by an upland meadow, a gravel garden stormwater swale, and riparian plantings will create the setting for park amenities including a stage pavilion, lawn amphitheater, boardwalk, and stage pavilion. Langan’s understanding of the site’s environmental conditions and regulatory realities guided the park’s design and soil-management strategy. Our subconsultants for the project include SITIO Architecture, Ground Reconsidered, O’Donnell and Naccarato, Arora Engineering, Milrose Consultants, and Becker & Frondorf.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Clients
Riverfront North Partnership (RNP)
Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation (PPR)

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Environmental
Landscape Architecture
Surveying/Geospatial


Pier 53 – Washington Avenue Green

OVERVIEW
Langan was retained to support the design-build improvements at Pier 53. The overarching goals of the project were threefold: ecologic enhancement, public access and community involvement, and balancing these priorities. The project sets a precedent for a larger program by serving as a template for ecological enhancements that will be effective for the adaptive reuse of industrial waterfronts. The ecological restoration will serve as a model for the proposed development of the entire 30-acre South Wetlands Park.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Clients
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
Applied Ecological Services, Inc.

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traditional Surveying
Natural Resources & Permitting
Landscape Architecture


Herron Park

OVERVIEW
Langan redesigned an asphalt lot to create a one-acre oasis with a sprayground, electronic play structures, and shaded sitting areas. The project was instrumental in setting the stage for sustainable stormwater management in the city by using raingardens, bioswales, and porous paving to manage the first inch of stormwater and to disconnect over 95% of the stormwater runoff from the city storm sewer system.
AWARDS
2010 Pennsylvania American Society of Landscape Architects, Honor Award
2011 American Council of Engineering Companies, Diamond Award

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
City of Philadelphia

Services
Site/Civil
Landscape Architecture
Natural Resources & Permitting


Race Street Connector

OVERVIEW
The Race Street Connector project includes the beautification and streetscape improvements along Race Street between 2nd Street and Columbus Boulevard. The improvements serve to enhance the pedestrian experience when traveling from Old City to the Delaware River by creating a welcoming and effective connection. More specifically, the improvements create an attractive gateway to the Race Street Pier on the Delaware River.

The project’s streetscape improvements largely focused on enhancing the pedestrian footway with decorative illuminating screen walls, architectural lighting, street furnishings, ornamental bollards and decorative landscaping. Roadway improvements included the addition of a designated bike lane along Race Street and the reconfiguration of two intersection alignments at Front Street and Water Street. The reconfigured alignments will allow pedestrians to cross the intersections without the use of curb ramps and will improve pedestrian-vehicular interaction at these intersections.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Clients
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
James Corner Field Operations

Services
Site/Civil
Traditional Surveying
Landscape Architecture


Washington Avenue Connector

OVERVIEW
The main goal of the Washington Avenue Connector project is to connect Philadelphia’s residents to the waterfront by transforming the half-mile stretch of this main urban arterial, from Fourth Street to Columbus Boulevard. Langan provided multiple services for this project, from its early feasibility analysis stages, through conceptual and final design, and into construction. Early on, we led a comprehensive stakeholder and community involvement program for several options that led to the preferred alternative, a Complete Street where the southern half of the right-of-way was converted into a multiuse path, local streets, and pocket parks. During design, Langan managed several permitting packages, including a joint PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit application with the Delaware River Trail project, a PennDOT Bridge Occupancy License submission for a major lighting installation, and multiple Streets Department and Philadelphia Water Department submissions.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Delaware River Waterfront Corporation

Services
Traffic & Transportation
Site/Civil

Architect
Andropogon


Green Street Dog Park

OVERVIEW
Langan provided landscape architecture, surveying, site/civil, and geotechnical engineering services to develop the design, obtain permits, and oversee the construction of a 12,000-SF dog park in the heart of Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood. The design converted an empty, asphalt lot into a dog park that features large open areas, a bull pen entry, synthetic dog turf that allows season-round use with no mud, seating areas, and a landscaped perimeter. Langan also assisted the Spring Garden Community Development Corporation in obtaining a $300,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to defray construction and design costs for the park. You can see more or the park’s happy users at #greenstreetdogpark on Instagram.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Spring Garden Community Development Corporation

Services
Landscape Architecture
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Surveying/Geospatial


The Pavilion – Penn Medicine

OVERVIEW
As part of the project team, known as PennFIRST, Langan is providing a multitude of services including site/civil, geotechnical, and traffic engineering; environmental consulting; permitting; and survey. In an effort to expand their rapidly growing network, Penn Medicine has assembled one of the first integrated project delivery (IPD) teams on the East Coast for the design and development of a new patient pavilion, located in Philadelphia’s University City area. The new clinical facility will include approximately 500 new patient beds, 50 operating and procedure rooms, a relocated and expanded Emergency Department, 700 space substructure parking lot, and expanded healthcare delivery programs within the network.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
University of Pennsylvania Health System

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Environmental
Surveying/Geospatial
Traffic & Transportation

Architects
HDR Architecture
Foster+Partners

Strategic Partners
L.F. Driscoll
Balfour Beatty
BR+A


CHOP Osler Circle Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic Study

OVERVIEW
Langan provided a detailed transportation assessment to review and analyze vehicular and pedestrian circulation patterns on Osler Circle. The assessment identified issues and constraints, and solicited options for improving circulation without adversely affecting traffic and pedestrian flows. Langan coordinated with the Philadelphia Streets Department, and conducted traffic and pedestrian counts on a high peak patient day during the weekday AM, midday and PM peak activity periods. In addition, our team conducted field observations to document existing traffic and pedestrian safety constraints. We used this information to analyze traffic operating conditions and level-of-service (LOS) analysis for Osler Circle intersections. To improve traffic and pedestrian flow, the transportation assessment also identified strategies for traffic calming, wayfinding and signage, and use of distinctive materials to raise awareness for pedestrian safety.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Services
Traffic & Transportation
Site/Civil

Architect
Ballinger


University of Pennsylvania – Perry World House

OVERVIEW
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) expanded their Philadelphia campus with the addition of Perry World House, a gathering place for faculty and students from all twelve of UPenn's schools to engage with eminent international scholars and policymakers on pressing global issues of the 21st century. Construction included a partial demolition of the structure and a 7,200-SF addition to the existing historic portion of the building. Now complete, Perry World House includes classrooms, offices, lecture halls, and multipurpose spaces. Site improvements included a plaza, service court, and pedestrian walkways. Langan provided a variety of services on the project, including an environmental assessment, survey, site/civil, geotechnical and transportation engineering, and permitting.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
University of Pennsylvania

Services
Environmental
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traffic & Transportation
Natural Resources & Permitting
Traditional Surveying


USciences – 1st Year Residence Hall

OVERVIEW
To better meet the needs of its students, University of the Sciences constructed a new, 126,000-SF mixed-use residence hall on the its main campus in the University City area of Philadelphia. The 426-bed residence hall for first-year students is a live-learn community that incorporates numerous sustainable features to achieve Green Globes building certification through the Green Building Initiative. To facilitate this new development, Langan designed the open-air plaza and streetscape on the neighboring streets and spearheaded the land-development permitting process with the City of Philadelphia agencies. The tight urban site, combined with substantial grade changes around the property, created complexity; especially with respect to the stormwater management and ADA accessible design.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Clients
Design Collective Inc.
University of Sciences
Campus Apartments

Services
Site/Civil
Surveying/Geospatial

Architect
Design Collective


Swarthmore College – NPPR Residence Hall

OVERVIEW
In order to accommodate a rapidly growing student population, Swarthmore College added a 128-bed residence hall near its Palmer, Pittenger and Roberts residence-hall complex. Langan provided site/civil, survey, and geotechnical engineering services to facilitate designing, permitting, and constructing the new residence hall. The project was designed to minimize environmental impact by following the recommendations established in the college’s sustainability framework. To meet the college’s sustainability goals, Langan worked closely with the project landscape architect, Studio Bryan Haynes, to design the site to preserve trees, respect the ball fields adjacent to the resident-hall quadrant, provide outdoor space for student enjoyment, provide low-impact stormwater-management features, and conserve energy. Langan’s experience with designing and permitting innovative stormwater management on tight urban sites was a key contribution to the success in the design and approval process for this project.

Location
Swarthmore Borough, PA

Client
Swarthmore College

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traditional Surveying

Architect
DIGSAU Architecture


Temple University Aramark STAR Complex

OVERVIEW
The Temple University Aramark Student Training & Recreation Center (STAR) Complex sits on a 4-acre site and includes an enclosed 60-yard football practice field, recreational facilities, a neighborhood recreational track, classroom space for the College of Public Health, green stormwater infrastructure, and a landscaped entry plaza. Langan provided site/civil engineering, landscape architecture, and survey services to facilitate the development. In addition to providing design and engineering services, Langan was responsible for securing land development permits from the Philadelphia Water Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Temple University

Services
Site/Civil
Surveying/Geospatial
Landscape Architecture


St. Joseph’s University – Retail, Parking, and Streetscape

OVERVIEW
Langan developed a context-sensitive campus streetscape design for a new campus bookstore, cafe, and restaurant that will front a new parking structure on campus. The site incorporated intensive stormwater management planning to comply with evolving Philadelphia Water Department regulations. The urban streetscape incorporates large planting trenches below the paving to provide a sustainable rooting area for street trees.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
O'Donnell & Naccarato

Services
Site/Civil
Landscape Architecture


Hotel Palomar

OVERVIEW
Langan provided full site/civil engineering and permitting services for the renovation of two historic structures in Philadelphia. We performed a detailed topographic survey of the property to aid in maintaining and creating efficient access into the building from street. Existing site features were preserved to maintain the character of the surrounding area.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group

Services
Site/Civil
Landscape Architecture
Traditional Surveying

Architect
Gensler


Hotel Monaco

OVERVIEW
Langan provided full site/civil engineering and permitting services for the renovation of the landmark Lafayette Building, located in the prestigious Old City historic district, into a four-star Kimpton Monaco Hotel, restaurant and roof-top lounge. Langan landscape architects designed a rooftop garden featuring a large central planter with seating that serves as banquette seating and supports lush plantings.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group

Services
Site/Civil
Landscape Architecture
Traditional Surveying


The Logan Hotel

OVERVIEW
Langan provided full site/civil engineering, landscape architecture, and permitting services for renovations to the Logan Hotel. The space was redeveloped as a new four-star hotel, including a restaurant and rooftop lounge. Langan provided comprehensive planning, design and construction phase services for the hotels courtyard gardens, sidewalk café and outdoor patio area. Langan also coordinated with the Parkway streetscape design, the streetscape and the street level planters for the hotel.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
BLT Architects

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Landscape Architecture
Surveying/Geospatial

Architect
BLT Architects


NorthXNorthwest

OVERVIEW
Langan provided geotechnical, traffic and evironmental engineering, survey and construction oversight services for the development of this new, 16-story apartment building with 270 units – a 434,000 SF expansion to the existing Museum Towers apartment building located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Philadelphia.  The new construction also included a four level parking garage and two rows of townhome structures in addition to improvements to the neighboring Matthais Baldwin Park and signalization upgrades at the two intersections along Spring Garden Street.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
Forest City Residential

Services
Geotechnical
Traffic & Transportation
Environmental
Traditional Surveying


Riverwalk Towers

OVERVIEW
Located along the Schuykill River, the Riverwalk Towers are two separate mixed-use that will include residential and retail space, along with a landscaped plaza and on-site parking. The 3.5-acre site had several constraints that needed to be considered with the design, including its location in the 100-year floodplain area of the FEMA map, active CSX rail lines along the western boundary, an overhead Septa bridge crossing through the parcel, and a PWD easement for an existing brick overflow sewer. Langan provided multiple services including survey, site/civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, traffic and transportation engineering, and permitting for the redevelopment.

Location
Philadelphia, PA

Client
PMC Property Group

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traffic & Transportation
Surveying/Geospatial
Landscape Architecture

Architect
Gensler


Selected Projects