News & Views

Avira Opens in Schuylkill Yards | Brandywine Realty Trust

Written by Brandywine Realty Trust | Jun 19, 2023 4:15:00 PM

Located within University City, the luxury rental offers an upscale lifestyle with 326 residences within the Schuylkill Yards neighborhood.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (June 19, 2023) – Brandywine Realty Trust, in partnership with Gotham Organization, today announced the opening of the leasing gallery at Avira, Philadelphia’s newest luxury residential offering within Schuylkill Yards. Avira features 326 residences ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, with high-end finishes and appliances, and spacious layouts. Avira is Gotham Organization’s first foray into the Philadelphia rental marketplace.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of Avira, our inaugural development in the historic city of Philadelphia. This marks an important milestone for Gotham Organization as we expand our footprint outside of New York City,” said David Picket, CEO of Gotham Organization. “We are thrilled to bring our dynamic approach to creating innovative and exceptional living experiences to Philadelphia and proud to partner with Brandywine who has done so much to improve the built environment in Philadelphia.”

The opening of Avira not only marks the first completed residential offering within Schuylkill Yards, but it introduces a new lifestyle for residents unlike any other in Philadelphia. In partnership with Gotham Organization, Brandywine is pleased to deliver Avira, which raises the bar in Philadelphia with thoughtful design, an unparalleled suite of amenities, and programming to create unique experiences for all occupants, both residents of Avira and commercial tenants of 3025 JFK Blvd., to enjoy,” said Jerry Sweeney, President and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust."

The interiors of Avira’s luxury residences are thoughtfully designed by CetraRuddy, a globally recognized architecture and interior design firm, and bring to life a mix of studio; one-, two-, and three-bedroom (including bi-level penthouse residences with rooftop terraces) residences. The kitchens in each traditional unit are appointed with a top-of-the-line suite of appliances including a stainless steel dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator, wood veneer cabinets, honed quartz countertops and chrome polished accessories. Bathrooms will feature ceramic floor and wall tile, a luxurious quartz polished vanity top and chrome polished accessories. All elements combined offer residents a coveted luxury lifestyle within Schuylkill Yards.

CetraRuddy also designed Avira’s upscale indoor and outdoor amenity spaces to bring luxury to the heart of University City. Avira will feature a highly anticipated rooftop pool with a sundeck, cabanas, BBQs, a large-format movie screen and landscaped terrace areas with pergolas. Residents of Avira, as well as office tenants of 3025 JFK Blvd, will enjoy a 14,500-square-foot, highly amenitized lifestyle hub with a club lounge, a co-working lounge with booths, a kitchenette, conference and meeting rooms, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness club with locker rooms and showers. The upscale fitness club will feature an array of offerings, including cardiovascular equipment, free weights, and functional training equipment, as well as a studio area including a highly popular Pilates reformer. Additional services offered include a 24-hour staffed lobby, personal concierge services, a package room, resident storage, electric car charging stations, a bike room and more.

“We thoughtfully curated both the residences and amenities at Avira to honor the rich heritage of Philadelphia and create an environment that transcends mere communal spaces, inviting residents to connect, collaborate, and thrive together. Our vision has now come to life, and we are thrilled to welcome in residents,” said Ximena Rodriguez, Partner and Director of Interior Design at CetraRuddy.

“With its luxurious residences and amenities designed to foster community, Avira represents the genesis of a vibrant residential community in the heart of Philadelphia,” said Bryan Kelly, President of Development at Gotham Organization. “We are excited to begin welcoming residents to experience the essence of urban living at Avira.”

Avira will be surrounded by 6.5 acres of green space within Schuylkill Yards’ master plan and connected to High Line Park, a pocket park designed by leading landscape architecture firm SWA/Balsley. Phase I of High Line Park is set to deliver this July, featuring a dog park, vegetative fence, and three distinctive outdoor rooms with flexible design to accommodate multiple uses.


About Brandywine Realty Trust
Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in the Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. markets. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 163 properties and 23.0 million square feet as of March 31, 2023 which excludes assets held for sale. Our purpose is to shape, connect and inspire the world around us through our expertise, the relationships we foster, the communities in which we live and work, and the history we build together. For more information, please visit www.brandywinerealty.com. 

About Gotham Organization
Gotham has over 110 years of experience constructing and developing high quality mixed-use buildings throughout New York. Following development and construction, Gotham’s in-house property management division seamlessly transitions into ongoing building and community management, operating vibrant and engaging communities in the neighborhoods it builds in. For more information, please visit www.gothamorg.com.

About 3025 JFK Blvd
3025 JFK Blvd is the first ground-up project within Schuylkill Yards. Avira occupies the top 18 floors of the tower, and residents will have access to the full building experience, which includes 29,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor amenity space. The 28-story mixed-use tower is designed by global architecture firm, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), with HDR, Inc. as the Executive Architect. At ground level, the building will feature 9,000 square feet of retail and a dedicated lobby for commercial tenants. Upstairs, levels 2 through 7 will offer 200,000 square feet of life science and office space. Large, flexible 29,400-square-foot floor plates with 16-foot ceiling heights, state-of-the-art mechanical and building systems, and ventilation for fresh air intake, filtration, and circulation provide the optimal environment for both lab and research space and collaborative office spaces. Panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass allows a surplus of natural light and expansive views outward. Office tenants and their employees will have access to the amenity level on the 9th floor that will be shared with Avira residents.

About Schuylkill Yards
Schuylkill Yards is a 14-acre transit-oriented neighborhood master-planned and developed by Brandywine in partnership with Drexel University. Located adjacent to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station and serving as the central connection point between Center City’s economic district and University City’s eds and meds epicenter, Schuylkill Yards will ultimately deliver 6.5 acres of vibrant parks, 1.5 million square feet of living space, 3.9 million square feet of dynamic life science and office spaces, and 65,000 square feet of experiential retail. Following the delivery of 3025 JFK Blvd, a ground-up fully dedicated life science building, 3151 Market will deliver in 2024. For more information, please visit schuylkillyards.com.