The Wharf at Rivertown

Developed by Preferred Real Estate at the cost of $50 million, The Wharf at Rivertown marks a milestone in the revitalization of the Chester Waterfront. A stunning example of adaptive reuse, the Wharf represents the conversion of a huge early 20th century electric generating station into 400,000 square feet of gleaming office space. All salvageable elements were reused, including the sale of 10,000 tons of scrap metal from inside the building and the reuse of 20,000 tons of brick and concrete for parking-lot fill. Other internal elements and equipment such as switch panels, transformers and water condensers were utilized in the renovation.

The Wharf at Rivertown has already left an impression on the economy of Chester. It has brought 1,200 jobs to a community of just under 40,000. Corporate tenants currently include Wells Fargo Auto Finance and Synygy Inc., a large software firm formerly based in Conshohocken, PA. The project has spurred seven new development projects for the city, and has been an important factor in the widening of Route 291, which runs parallel to the site, as well as new on and off ramps from I-95 linking to the Chester Waterfront.