Residence Inn by Marriott opens at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park
Residence Inn by Marriott opens at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park, advancing CRISP campus transformation
WILMINGTON, Del. – This week, leaders from MRA Group (MRA), a privately held real estate development and services firm, were joined by state and local officials to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting and opening of the new Residence Inn by Marriott Wilmingtonat Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP). This event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the former DuPont property, where pharmaceutical giants like Merck and other companies have established a local presence.
MRA broke ground on the 127-room extended-stay hotel at 115 Innovation Boulevard in January 2025. It is the first new hotel to be developed in the Wilmington area in nearly four years and represents the latest phase of investment in the community at the 164-acre, 1.3 million-square-foot innovation campus. MRA Group partnered with Gulph Creek Hotels to develop the Residence Inn as part of its broader plan to support growing community demand for lodging and hospitality amenities. The hotel is one of many ways the campus has been thoughtfully designed to support visiting researchers, project teams, corporate partners, and relocating employees connected to the growing CRISP tenant community.
“We are very excited about the opening of this beautiful Marriott,” said Brian Sundermeir, Development Lead for Residence Inn by Marriott Wilmington at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park. “It is a wonderful addition to the CRISP campus that will support business and tourism in the greater Wilmington area.”
The new Residence Inn, conveniently located near Interstate 95, downtown Wilmington, Wilmington Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport, provides access to employers, healthcare institutions, research organizations, and businesses throughout Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley.
"Watching the CRISP campus continue to grow has been incredible, and today’s opening of Residence Inn by Marriott is another exciting chapter in that story. Investments like this strengthen our economy, create opportunities for our business community, and make New Castle County an even more attractive place to work, visit, and invest,” said Yvonne Deadwyler, President and CEO of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber is thrilled to celebrate this milestone with MRA Group, Gulph Creek, and all of the partners who helped make it happen."
Designed for both short- and long-term stays, the hotel includes spacious rooms featuring full kitchens, dedicated living and work areas, complimentary Wi-Fi, and residential-style amenities tailored to business travelers, project teams, healthcare professionals, relocating employees, and campus visitors. The hotel also features meeting space, a fitness center, outdoor gathering areas, complimentary breakfast service, and the Hartmann & Fehrenbach Brew House, a German-inspired beer garden open to hotel guests, CRISP tenants, and the surrounding community.
“We are excited to open a new Residence Inn and welcome guests to Delaware’s new hub for life science, research & development, and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies,” said Derek Sylvester, Principal of Gulph Creek Hotels. “We expect our hotel and outdoor beer garden will serve as the hub within the hub for commerce and hospitality in the Greater Wilmington market area.”
The hotel expands a growing roster of amenities across the CRISP campus, which already includes office and laboratory space, childcare and fitness facilities, banking services, and outdoor recreation areas. Future phases of campus development are expected to further advance MRA Group’s long-term vision for CRISP as one of the region’s leading destinations for innovation and life sciences.
Elected officials, including Governor Matt Meyer, Senator Spiros Mantzavinos, New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, and Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez, all attended the ceremony.
Construction financing for the project was arranged by D2 Capital Advisors, with WSFS Bank, Nuveen Green Capital, and Sustainable Energy Utility Incorporated serving as lenders, reinforcing the project’s commitment to energy-efficient and sustainable development practices.