Philadelphia’s compact yet extensive skyline has been rapidly expanding though the years, especially in the last four decades. In the late 1980s, five new towers were constructed gave shape to the skyline as we recognize it today, most prominent of which was Willard Rouse’s Liberty Place project, where One Liberty Place was completed in 1987. Over the past few years, a new boom of high-rise buildings has been underway after the construction of the Comcast Technology Center. In this publication, Philadelphia YIMBY observes the rising
Philadelphia skyline from the Interstate 95 in the past three years.
2020 Philadelphia skyline from the I-95. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The first photograph is from September 2019, just a little over a month after the Four Seasons Hotel opened at the Comcast Technology Center. In the photo, we can observe that exterior construction at the W/Element Hotel is nearly finished, with a few window panels temporarily blocked by plywood. The only cranes seen in the skyline at the time were the yellow crane for Hyatt Centric and the then-recently erected blue crane at Arthaus. The crane for The Laurel Rittenhouse was erected at the site in November of the same year, while work was underway at the lower floors of the first tower of the Riverwalk project.
2021 Philadelphia skyline from the I-95. Photo by Thomas Koloski
In the October 2020 photograph, further progress is seen as Arthaus rises more than halfway up. Riverwalk had topped out in the summer and the cladding was nearing the top. The Laurel’s crane was sticking out higher than before, which would rise taller yet in the coming months. The last photo in December 2021 shows substantial progress. Both Riverwalk towers are topped, Arthaus looks nearly complete, and The Laurel Rittenhouse has recently topped out its steel parapet. Other high-rsie projects currently under construction in the city include 2222 Market Street and the Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion.
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Well, a new year welcomes new developments! 😉
A new year brings new developments! 😉