Port of Philadelphia celebrates topping off ceremony at new distribution center

On Friday, August 27, a Beam Signing and Topping Off Ceremony celebrated the placement of the top piece of steel in the new structure underway at the corner of 3rd and Galloway.

Topping off (sometimes referred to as topping out) is a builders’ rite traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction. PhilaPort is happy to celebrate this milestone with the building’s contractor Haines & Kibblehouse (H&K). If you drive by the building site this week, or happen to be in South Philadelphia, you will see the American Flag flying proudly from the top beam.

The $42 million, 201,621 square foot building is a critical step in the development of the Port’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, the region’s main container terminal. The new food-grade warehouse is one mile from the marine terminal and will help the Port attract new shippers and ocean lines.

Holt Logistics Corp. will be the operator of the new PhilaPort Distribution Center, which will serve as a major adjunct to the container operations at Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. This new warehouse will allow the Holt organization to get containers off the terminal and rapidly unloaded into the state-of-the-art facility. Containers can then be returned directly to the marine terminal or moved to a Pennsylvania factory to be loaded with exports, further expanding opportunities for local and regional commerce.

“This warehouse is a major step to maximizing the cargo throughput of the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal and will generate hundreds of good, family-sustaining jobs.” said PhilaPort Executive Director and CEO Jeff Theobald. “Upon its completion in May 2022, we will be able to handle more cargo with great speed and efficiency.”