July 25, 2007
A Stitch in Time
MS&R Architects’ unusual adaptation of five historic industrial buildings made the move of Urban Outfitters’ headquarters from downtown Philadelphia to its decommissioned navy yard a seamless one.
The Philadelphia Navy Yard is the new home for the corporate headquarters of Urban Outfitters. As America’s Navy Yards and other military posts get adapted to civilian and commercial uses, issues of historic preservation, both inside and outside, will be debated. There is a tendency now to break away from the preserved-under-glass-school of saving historic properties. Add to that the unique perspective of Urban Outfitters and the company’s particular approach to historic preservation and an amazing corporate campus unlike any other emerges. The article “A Stitch in Time” by Inga Saffron from the May 2007 issue of Metropolis explores the myriad layers of the project including historic preservation and brand identity, and shows the full extent of interior possibilities in reclaimed space.
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