Transwestern has officially planted its flag in Philadelphia, rolling SSH Real Estate’s brokerage and property-management team into its Mid-Atlantic operation and opening a Center City office on South Broad. The move brings roughly 47 local professionals and more than five million square feet of managed property into Transwestern’s regional platform, giving the national firm an instant footprint in a market where SSH has been a fixture for decades.
Transwestern said the SSH team joined its Mid-Atlantic operations on June 2 and that the deal brings SSH employees and their portfolio into the firm's nationwide platform, according to Transwestern. The company says the move positions it to offer integrated brokerage, property management and advisory services from an office in Center City.
Industry reporting says the deal grew out of conversations between market veterans and was guided by Keith Foery and Pete Soens, a pairing that observers say could shuffle long-standing brokerage relationships, as reported by CoStar. CoStar's coverage highlights the transaction as Transwestern’s first substantive Philadelphia market entry and notes that the SSH team operates out of South Broad.
Local roots, national platform
SSH traces its origins to 1952 and rebranded as SSH Real Estate in 2004, evolving into a full-service firm with brokerage, property management and maintenance operations, according to SSH Real Estate. The firm reports that it manages millions of square feet across Center City and the suburbs and has built its reputation on hands-on property oversight and tenant-focused services.
Portfolio and scale
Company materials and industry databases show the deal delivers marquee Center City assets and about five million square feet of managed space into Transwestern’s Mid-Atlantic platform, as noted by CoStar. Properties associated with SSH management include 123 South Broad Street and 1845 Walnut Street, buildings that have long anchored SSH’s downtown presence.
Leadership and continuity
In its announcement, Transwestern quoted Keith Foery saying, "We're proud to welcome the SSH Real Estate team to Transwestern." The companies also clarified that SSH Facilities was not part of the transaction and will continue to operate independently under the same leadership.
What to watch next
The deal will be closely watched for signs of further consolidation among local property managers and for how aggressively Transwestern leans on SSH’s long-running Center City relationships to chase new leasing and management assignments. SSH’s recent work on the Witherspoon Building conversion earlier this spring underscores the firm’s active role in the market and helps explain why a national platform would want its team.
For tenants and owners, leaders from both firms say the plan is a smooth transition, with expanded services backed by national resources while preserving local relationships. The next test will be how Transwestern positions its new Philadelphia office and whether rival firms answer with talent moves of their own.
