Creating a flexible research and development facility in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard

Axalta Global Innovation Center – Design Services

Known as a global leader in the development of specialized coatings, Axalta set out to create a new research and development (R&D) facility in Philadelphia. The building needed to accommodate hazardous materials, complex ventilation systems, and energy intensive processes—without limiting the flexibility required for future research. Its location within Philadelphia’s Navy Yard added another layer of complexity, requiring careful coordination with existing infrastructure, regulatory systems, and an active mixed-use campus.

The early site and planning advisory services we provided led to the design commission. The challenge shifted to designing a highly adaptable and performance driven research environment. The 200,000 gross square foot (18,581-gross-square-metre) Global Innovation Center is organized around flexible laboratory neighborhoods that surround a shared applications zone with multiple spray booths for test sample painting. Satellite storage rooms, classified as hazardous occupancy, support each laboratory and provide safe, accessible management of raw materials and in-progress work. Offices line the perimeter, bringing daylight into the workspace and providing direct visual and physical connections to the labs. Near the main entrance, a large assembly area supports meetings, collaboration, and client engagement.

Behind the scenes, the building’s infrastructure plays a critical role. A central utility plant supplies steam, chilled water, and compressed air to support research operations, while a regenerative thermal oxidizer treats exhaust from the spray booths, removing volatile organic compounds before release. Together, these design strategies deliver Axalta’s primary R&D hub and the world’s largest coatings research facility—an environment built to support safe operations, collaboration, and long-term flexibility.