The concrete structure is nearly topped out at One Cathedral Square, a 244-foot-tall, 23-story residential rising at 1701 Race Street in Logan Square, Center City, a block south of from the Vine Street Expressway. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Exeter Property Group, with the Hunter Roberts Construction Group as the contractor, the building is part of Cathedral Square, a block-spanning development that will also include the 470-foot-tall Two Cathedral Square tower.
Cathedral Square Phase 1 from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Previously known as Cathedral Square Phase One, the building rose at an incredibly fast pace over the course of the past year. In January, parking lot at the the site of the tower was closed off, with signs for Hunter Roberts Construction Group posted on the fence. Excavation was underway by March, with a hole excavated into the ground. The tower crane was erected in May, and by the next month the first floor was already up, with the residential floors underway by July.
Cathedral Square Phase 1 from Spring Garden Street Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The substantial progress is very noticeable by now, as the tower stands close to topped out and the concrete structure has reached the top floor. At the time when our photographs were taken, the last floor slab was under construction and was not poured yet, but now the slab is poured showing off the nearly complete form of the building. The facade rises seven stories above the ground, presenting sharp glass divided by cladding around the floorplates, which is covered with temporary blue tape.
Cathedral Square Phase 1 with the Center City Towers from Belmont Plateau. Photo by Thomas Koloski
Completion is anticipated by 2023.
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Assuming Cathedral Square Tower 2 skates through CDR, we can be sure they will go with construction once permits are released. Cathedral Square Tower 1 will be completed early 2023 for people to move in.
Cathedral Square 2 also has a provision for 14 floors to be converted into office space. Too early to speculate who will take over the 14 floors but church accountants will be going through pencils to compare the value of renovating their 50 year old small tower vice selling it to the developer and moving to the office space in Cathedral Square 2 to accrue savings instead of staying in the old building and be stuck with unanticipated costs during renovating the old building.
Will they make the move? Depends on if they can convince the Pope to approve the move.
It so short, it won’t be noticed.