Ever since the master plan for Schuylkill Yards in University City was unveiled for the first time, it displayed a supertall skyscraper dominating the 14-acre site, a feature that persisted throughout all future iterations. Renderings show a glass-clad tower rising at 3101 Market Street, accented with bronze highlights that appear similar to those at 9 DeKalb and 111 West 57th Street in New York City, which are also designed by SHoP Architects, the group behind the Schuylkill Yards master plan. Brandywine Realty Trust, the project developer, is also responsible for projects such as the 350-foot-tall tower proposed at 2100 Market Street in Center City. As of the 2016 renderings, the supertall appears to rise around 1,100 feet high.
The tower would rise just to the west of 3151 Market Street, a 226-foot-tall, 14-story high-rise that is slated for construction in the near future.
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline looking northwest. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline looking southwest. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline from the airport. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline looking west. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Schuylkill Yards supertall with the Philadelphia skyline looking northwest. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Since West Philadelphia lacks considerably tall skyscrapers, the Schuylkill Yards supertall will stand out from every vantage point. The most dramatic views are likely to be seen from Drexel Square and the South Street Bridge. From Belmont Plateau to the northwest, the tower will stand out prominently, visually nearly aligned with the height of the Comcast Technology Center. From the One Liberty Place observation deck, one would see the supertall rising just above the PECO Building.
Schuylkill Yards is planned to wrap construction in 2035, with the supertall possibly being the last phase of the project.
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Interesting comparison to Brooklyn.
I personally compare the Riverwalk to Chicago myself, especially considering that two additional bridges are in the plans as part of the 30th Street Station master plan.
It would be nice to throw a little crumbs to the less fortunate. Could you please utilize some of the land and buildings at the navy yard and elsewhere, for affordable housing? Or will the housing being put up, be exclusively for the fortunate ones. Maybe we need the Chinese to come over here to show our great capitalists how to build things. I have been watching an apartment building going up in Conshohocken. It took around 4 years. The Chinese can put a building up in less than 4 weeks. Maybe in all the price ranges. Meet the needs of all the people. Not just a small section of the rich.