Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Building, Historic freight station in University City, Philadelphia, United States
The Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Building is a six-story structure in University City, Philadelphia, that blends materials and design periods. The facade combines limestone on the ground floor with buff-colored brick above, reflecting Art Deco design principles.
The structure opened in 1929 as a freight operation for the Pennsylvania Railroad. From 1956 to 1993, GE Re-entry Systems occupied the site while advancing aerospace technology for NASA missions.
The space now serves as a residential neighborhood where urban dwellers share a building steeped in industrial heritage. The adaptation reflects how Philadelphians have reworked old manufacturing spaces into living communities.
The building has been converted into residential apartments branded as the Left Bank and open to viewing from public areas. The location sits in a walkable neighborhood with regular transit access.
The site housed the facility that recovered the first human-made object from space in 1962. This achievement marks it as a landmark in early spaceflight history.
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