The cross-braced steel parapet is being erected at the top of The Laurel Rittenhouse, a high-rise building under construction at 1911 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City. The tower is designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Southern Land Company, with Hunter Roberts Construction Group as the contractor and the Harman Group responsible for structural engineering. Located at just across the street from Rittenhouse Square Park, the tower now reaches the top of the parapet, rising 599 feet high and 48 stories tall. The development will feature 185 rental units and 60 luxury condominiums.
The Laurel Rittenhouse from the I-95. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The skyscraper has made substantial progress through the past year, as the building rose above the ground by the middle of summer 2020. The first three floors were the most challenging, due to the cantilever on the west side. As the beginning of 2021 came, the tower was steadily rising on the rental residential floors section in its lower portion. By spring 2021, the structure had transitioned the slim top portion, rising just above the amenity floors. Through the spring and summer, concrete work was completed and the concrete forms were taken off of the core in October.
The Laurel Rittenhouse from John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Thomas Koloski
During our construction tour on the top of the skyscraper, it was noticeable that steel erection preparation was about to be underway as multiple beams sat on the very top slab. In the past two weeks, the steel has been in the process of being erected while starting the formation of the cross-braced structures. An air unit has been placed just to the south of the core, and cladding installation has slowly continued with the glass now reaching the 45th floor. The steel parapet may be finished by the end of this month, with the cladding possibility done by spring.
The Laurel Rittenhouse from Spring Garden Street. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The Laurel Rittenhouse is scheduled for completion in August 2022.
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Hopefully with a line of people bringing up checkbooks!