GlaxoSmithKline moving to South Philly Navy Yard

A major Philadelphia high-tech employer is moving to the Navy Yard.  

GlaxoSmithKline is moving its 1,300 employees from Center City to a new high tech building in the South Philadelphia Navy Yard.  Dan Phelan says he and his fellow employees at the pharmaceutical company didn’t want to move out of the city but wanted a new home.

“We were really looking for two things, one was to create a tremendous new work environment for our employees and we thought the best place to do that was at the Navy Yard and the second thing was to be able to create an open collaborative working environment and a LEED Platinum building and that’s what drove us to this decision,” said Phelan.

GlaxoSmithKline President Deidre Connelly says the company was not given tax or other incentives to stay.  “This will allow us to be a part of the Philadelphia community which we have been a part of since the 1830’s and is a building that will be environmentally friendly in every aspect,” she said.

Mayor Michael Nutter says the decision is a sign things are changing for the city.  “Philadelphia really is the ideal place for business, we’re back we’re resurging, we’re a resilient city, Philadelphia is rising,” Nutter said.

The $80 million building should be completed at the end of 2012 or early 2013.