New Companies Come To Philadelphia’s Marketplace in 2015

Alison Vayne, for GPA -- During his annual address to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Nutter announced that two new global design and technology companies are coming to Center City in early 2015.

“I am excited to welcome HOK and IntegriChain as the latest additions to Philadelphia’s business community,” said Mayor Nutter. “They are just the latest companies to recognize the huge benefit that comes from locating in our city in terms of access to talent, low cost of living, and being part of a vibrant economy which is home to a range of companies from large corporations to early startups.”

HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm specializing in sectors such as healthcare, aviation and higher education. It first started in 1955 by creating designs to help organizations succeed and enrich people’s lives.

“HOK’s mission is to deliver exceptional design ideas and solutions for our clients through the creative blending of human need, environmental stewardship, value creation, science and art,” explained the company in a recent press release.

With a network of 25 offices on three continents, HOK will set up its Philadelphia office at One Logan Square and will be home to about 40 design and architecture professionals. HOK’s settlement in Philadelphia is a result of the city’s marketplace growth and potential.

“HOK's expertise based practice aligns perfectly with the types of activity in the Philadelphia market,” said Carl Galioto, FAIA, Managing Principal at HOK. “We are excited to be planting roots in the city and look forward to having a positive impact on the business community.”

IntegriChain, a New Jersey-based cloud company focusing on channel management for healthcare suppliers, also saw the importance and opportunity for business in Philadelphia. Its presence in Center City will allow the company to have access to talent, proximity to customers and to become part of a vibrant technology startup community. By the end of 2015, IntegriChain plans to have more than 50 employees working at its Penn Center offices.

“As a leading-edge software company serving the top players in the healthcare industry, our relocation allows our team to be a part of the thriving Philadelphia tech community and be proximate to many of our customers,” said Kevin Leininger, CEO of IntegriChain. “Additionally, Philadelphia offers a pool of high-caliber technology talent as we continue to grow.”

IntegriChain and HOK are just the latest two companies moving to Philadelphia. In 2014, many others decided to make the move and expand offices to the city. In fact, the American Bible Society, a 200-year-old national non-profit organization based in New York, is in the process of relocating its headquarters and 200 employees to Philadelphia.

“HOK and IntegriChain could not have picked a more exciting time to move to Philadelphia – a city which is growing and is increasingly a presence on the global stage,” said Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. “They join a thriving business community which is attracting new members – large and small – thanks to a new identity for this city and an influx of talented, educated people who have chosen to build their lives here.” 

Image courtesy of Fine Art America.