Construction Spotlight: The Noble – A Vision for Connection and Community in Northern Liberties
An Interview with Peter Epstein, Director of Development, National Real Estate Development
What makes The Noble such a standout development in Philadelphia?
Pete: The Noble is a unique, 360-unit multifamily building located in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. It integrates with and takes its design cues from the neighborhood’s authentic identity, while offering an exceptional living experience. One of its signature features is our partnership with City Fitness, who opened a flagship 17,000 square foot gym right at the base of the building. The gym includes a landscaped outdoor amenity deck with a full-length lap pool, and skyline views, a first for the neighborhood. We partnered with City Fitness on their design so that the space connects directly with the Noble’s lobby and lounge – it’s anchored by a juice bar which is open to the gym, Noble residents, and the public alike, and encourages a free flow between spaces. Every resident automatically gets membership to City Fitness, offering access to fitness spaces that truly enhance the living experience.
What sets the amenity offerings at The Noble apart from others?
Pete: The Noble’s amenities are designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle while also fostering connections. City Fitness’s outdoor lap pool is a unique feature for residents and gym members alike. A real 75-foot-long pool is hard to find, it’s an incredible amenity for residents who love to swim. What’s more is that it remains heated year-round thanks to our energy-efficient Capstone microturbines. These turbines generate electricity for the building that is cleaner and more efficient than grid electricity. The byproduct of the energy production is heat, which we use to heat the pool, and provide hot water to all residents. It’s a true combined heat and power solution, and we’re very proud to have it at the Noble.
The Noble’s vibrant lobby brings the outside in, with hand laid brick, a living green wall, and a full program of live plants and murals commissioned by local artists. Outside, our landscaped public open space creates a cohesive, welcoming environment for residents and neighbors alike, and ties the building to the neighborhood.
Can you elaborate on the development’s connection to the broader Northern Liberties neighborhood?
Pete: Absolutely! Northern Liberties is an eclectic neighborhood, already full of energy with a mix of residential spaces, restaurants, galleries, and music venues. The Noble anchors the southern end of Northern Liberties’ arterial stretch of N 2nd Street. The vision is to continue this artery further south along N 2nd, and create a vibrant connection to the Old City neighborhood below Callowhill Street. The Noble is the first project of a larger masterplan to tie these two great neighborhoods together, with walkable, vibrant spaces along 2nd Street.
What sets the design of The Noble apart, and how does it also foster community and connectivity?
Pete: The design of The Noble aims to both integrate with and enhance its surroundings. The building reflects both the character of the neighborhood and a vision for its future. The curving corner at the N 2nd and Spring Garden acknowledges the building’s presence as an iconic anchor to the southern end of neighborhood, and its extensive use of hand laid brick takes its cues from the language of late 19th century warehouse buildings that still dot the local landscape, A “tree column” at Spring Garden Street literally lifts the base of the building up so that it floats two stories above the ground, inviting residents and neighbors alike into our welcoming public plaza. The building’s lobby is an extension of our inviting open space, and many elements make their way inside – living plants, the facade’s hand-laid brick, as well as custom-commissioned artworks by notable local artists.
The Noble emphasizes flow and connection, which is why the lobby lounge connects directly to the gym and communal spaces. Residents can easily move between working out, relaxing, and working, all within an environment that encourages a balance of activity and calm. The open public spaces, green walls, and outdoor landscaping further tie the building back to the neighborhood.
How does The Noble reflect National Development’s vision for transformative projects?
Pete: We’re very proud of our work here at The Noble. This project builds upon the lessons learned from our mixed-use development, East Market, located a few miles away in Center City, Philadelphia. As we did at East Market, we continued to focus on creating activated streets and connecting neighborhoods in meaningful ways at the Noble. In Philadelphia and beyond, our goal is to bring more transformative projects to life—projects that integrate into their communities and offer compelling, sustainable, and vibrant spaces for residents and businesses. We’re excited for what the future holds.
Thank you, Pete!