The foundation work for the 374-foot-tall, 31-story One Dock Street is underway in the Society Hill section of Old City, Center City. The residential skyscraper will join architect I.M. Pei’s nearby Society Hill towers with a dominant presence that nearly marches the massing of the Brutalist high-rises. Designed by Bower Lewis Thower Architects and developed by LCOR Incorporated, the new building will feature an exterior that makes use of various shades of glazed glass, white metal highlights, and brick cladding at the base. The 272-unit rental tower will add considerable mass the east side of the Philadelphia skyline near the Delaware River.
One Dock Street site looking northwest. Photo by Thomas Koloski
At the end of 2020, the development was heavily rumored to come into action at any point, with construction allegedly imminent. Permits were not submitted to the city until June of this year, to excitement among supporters of the project. Though the proposal was heavily criticized with typical NIMBY arguments such as height and shadows, the building is nevertheless moving along as the permits were approved by the city. Just last month, YIMBY photographer Colin LeStourgeon had spotted construction equipment along with a fence on site.
One Dock Street excavation. Photo by Thomas Koloski
In our recent trek around the site, we have observed that much progress has been made on the long-awaited project over the course of the past month, though we did not see many workers at the site. Excavation has started and the soil now sits below grade, around 10 feet deep. A pile drill is working on the north side to install guide rods, while multiple machines are lines up on the southeast side of the site, ready for work. Excavation may be completed by winter, and the building may rises above ground by spring of next year.
One Dock Street site from Society Hill Towers staircase. Photo by Thomas Koloski
No projected completion date has been announced, though construction may be finished by 2024.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
look at the clunky way the tower meets the base…meets the ground. Is this the best the architects can do?
I thought that Thomas was the photographer for Philadelphia YIMBY.
Anyhow, good reporting as usual Philly SkyGuy! 😉
I am grateful to have additional density at Society Hill to contrast those ugly towers.
When will the Penn’s Landing development project commence construction activities?
I am a photographer for the site. But I am not the only one, Collin is also a photographer for the site
Am I the only one on this site who actually likes the Society Hill Towers?
I like the Towers. And I find it peculiar that this new tall structure is being built directly in front of them on that narrow piece of land. It feels like some sort of phallic competition.
I honestly don’t get all the Nimbyism around this tower. Do people like to look at Camden that much?