Ensemble Investments has announced the launch of KAAZI, a new workforce development and training center powered by Orchestra Life Sciences (OLS) at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Located at 1200 Intrepid Avenue, the center will provide specialized training to prepare workers for careers in pharmaceutical and advanced therapy manufacturing, helping life sciences employers build the skilled talent they need.
“Training for highly controlled manufacturing environments can be difficult to replicate on the job, where every decision impacts quality, safety, and production,” said Hiten Patel, Executive Director of KAAZI. “KAAZI gives participants a dedicated environment to practice critical skills and build confidence before entering active production. Ensemble provided us the space and flexibility to create that hands-on environment within a growing life sciences and workforce development community.”
Hands-On Training Before the Production Floor
KAAZI’s three-month program combines computer-based instruction, instructor-led training, and hands-on experience with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, cleanroom behavior, aseptic manufacturing procedures, and regulatory compliance. It also incorporates digital simulations and training customized to each participating employer’s operational needs.
In its initial phase, KAAZI will work directly with pharmaceutical and life sciences companies that hire participants and send them to the center for training. Each cohort will include approximately 12 to 16 participants, who earn KAAZI certification upon completing employer-established requirements. The program is open to people with a range of educational backgrounds, including high school diplomas, associate degrees, and STEM degrees, and aims to speed workforce readiness while helping employers streamline onboarding.
KAAZI will welcome its first pilot cohort in January 2027, working with existing Orchestra clients and select Philadelphia life sciences institutions to refine the curriculum ahead of a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2027.
Building on Orchestra Life Sciences’ Philadelphia Investment
OLS, a technical consultancy specializing in advanced therapy manufacturing, relocated its global headquarters from Montreal to the Navy Yard in 2025. KAAZI extends the company’s technical expertise into workforce training. Ensemble, which owns 1200 Intrepid Avenue and is developing a 109-acre mixed-use district on the campus, worked closely with OLS to establish both its headquarters and the training center.
“Attracting companies to the Navy Yard is only part of our vision. Equally important is creating an environment where businesses can grow, and the workforce can develop alongside them,” said Mark Seltzer, Managing Director of Ensemble Investments. “Bringing KAAZI to the Navy Yard reflects our commitment to providing flexible spaces that support not only business operations, but also specialized training and workforce development. By expanding these opportunities on campus, we’re helping strengthen the talent pipeline that will support the Navy Yard’s continued growth and create new career pathways in Philadelphia.”
A Growing Workforce Hub
KAAZI joins a growing network of workforce development initiatives at the Navy Yard. In 2020, PIDC, the Navy Yard’s master developer and operator, launched the Navy Yard Skills Initiative with University City District. The program has served more than 250 participants with a 91% job placement rate, working with employers including Hanwha, the U.S. Navy, Iovance Biotherapeutics, and Tastykake. The campus is also home to training programs run by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Rhoads Industries, with additional facilities planned by the Carpenters Union.
“Workforce development is an important part of the Navy Yard’s continued growth. Through initiatives like KAAZI, we’re working with employers and workforce partners to connect local talent with career opportunities and help businesses find the skilled workers they need,” said Kate McNamara, Executive Vice President of the Navy Yard at PIDC. “We’re pleased to see continued investment in training across the Navy Yard and proud to work alongside partners who are contributing to the campus’s growth and the region’s economic future.”
The training center also reflects the Navy Yard’s evolution into a mixed-use neighborhood. Some KAAZI participants traveling from outside the area are expected to stay at AVE Navy Yard during training, living and learning on the same campus.
About Orchestra Life Sciences
Orchestra Life Sciences is a technical consultancy providing strategic support and scientific expertise for pharmaceutical therapies in cancer and rare diseases. It specializes in engineering solutions, operational excellence, and quality compliance services for advanced therapy manufacturing facilities, including facility design and process optimization.
About Ensemble Investments
Ensemble Investments is a real estate investment, development, and management firm that has invested in and developed more than $2 billion in U.S. real estate since 1989, across hospitality, life sciences, corporate office, multifamily, and retail. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, with offices in Philadelphia and Phoenix, Ensemble is the exclusive developer of a 109-acre mixed-use district at the Navy Yard.
