PHILADELPHIA-The burgeoning Navy Yard will expand by one more headquarters building as Franklin Square Capital Partners has decided to relocate to an 80,050-square-foot structure that Liberty Property Trust and Synterra Partners will construct for it.

The building was originally to be built speculatively.

Franklin Square signed a long-term lease for the four-story structure to rise at 201 Rouse Blvd., next to the Courtyard by Marriott already under construction. The new headquarters will have views of the city skyline and will include a café-style restaurant, fitness center, conference facilities, and floor plans custom-designed for Franklin Square to maximize natural light and promote team interaction.

“We are excited to keep our headquarters in Philadelphia and to join the growing community at the Navy Yard,” said Michael C. Forman, founder and CEO. “We look forward to having a custom-designed space that will accommodate our rapid growth and foster our company's energetic, collaborative and innovative culture.”

Franklin Square handles alternative investment funds that allow mainstream investors to put their money into assets such as private companies that formerly were only available to institutional investors. In the period 2009-2012, the company's revenues grew from $1.5 million to almost $27 million. On this year's Forbes Magazine list of America's most promising companies, Franklin Square is ranked 13^th.

Liberty Property had started out to build the new office building on spec', but will now start construction next month on the build-to-suit structure, scheduled for completion in early 2015. The same thing happened previously with Liberty's Navy Yard project for Iroko Pharmaceuticals. Liberty has initiated a total of 12 projects at the development.

The new building has been designed by DIGSAU, a Philadelphia architectural firm. The ground floor is glass-walled, with three higher floors clad in zinc and featuring floor- to ceiling windows. The lobby is to sport wood floors, Jerusalem limestone and Venetian plaster finishes.

Glenn Blumfeld and Kartik Patel of Radnor-based Tactix Real Estate Advisors represented Franklin Square in the deal.

Instant Insights /

Investment Firm Takes Navy Yard's Next Office

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