Philadelphia YIMBY’s recent site visit has observed that construction is nearing completion at a 307-foot-tall, 23-story mixed-use high-rise underway at 2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City West. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the PMC Property Group (which also serves as the contractor), the curvy tower will rise on a narrow, wedge-shaped lot sited by the Schuylkill River waterfront and will contain 334,201 square feet of interior space. The development will feature 287 residential units as well as office space and parking for 44 cars and 96 bicycles.
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
The development rises from an complicated lot. The site’s primary access point sits at its east side at North 23rd Street, which also happens to sit at its the narrowest point. Although the west side is considerably wider and faces the river, it also does not offer street access and faces the railroad tracks. To the north and south the site is hemmed in by the viaducts of the JFK Boulevard and the regional rail, which both rise over 20 feet above grade.
Since YIMBY’s last visit to the site in April 2023, when piling was underway, foundation work has been completed and the tower is now rising into the skyline. The concrete frame currently stands three stories tall, and the building’s signature curvy shape is already discernible.
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F Kennedy Boulevard. Photo by Jamie Meller. April 2025
2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The building is easily among the most dramatic additions to the Philadelphia skyline in recent years. The building makes a particular impact on the skyline from the Schuylkill River, where it fills a glaring gap between Center City West and the recently completed, similarly-sized Riverwalk towers to the north. Its glassy, curved form, one of the most sophisticated new skyscraper designs the city has seen in years, makes for a prominent appearance both from the Schuylkill River waterfront to the west and from Center City to the east, where it flanks the iconic view of the 30th Street Station along JFK Boulevard.
From a programmatic standpoint, the tower makes for excellent use of a river-facing yet complicated and currently marginal lot, helping bridge the gap between Center City and University City and bringing vibrancy to a currently forlorn section of the boulevard.
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The site is so unusual and they made it work. Love the new addition to the Philly skyline..
This is exactly why I visit Philly Yimby, to discover outstanding developments, just like this! 😉
This article was so well written and produced by Vitali Ogorodnikov. 👍🏼
This must be AI chat bot lol
Anyone who has read my contributions here in Philly Yimby knows that your insults is a display of your stupidity.
Have a nice day trolling the Internet! 😉
Well, it sure beats a blank, just came from living and working in NYC & region, and they spit out 40+ story mixed-use tower crane projects non-stop, seemingly like a baker’s dozen per year at minimum. It’s good to see this space developed PERIOD, all things considered, being that I helped do renovation construction work in my home City here of Philly all the way back in mid to late ’90s, so this bldg design is more than “impressive” to me
I’m glad to get another update on this building finally. It is a complicated lot wedge in between JFK Blvd and the Septa train tracks emerging from the tunnel onto the bridge over the river. I live in Chicago now but moved here from Philly. SBC is a Chicago firm and they are prolific here churning out variations of the same rehash design over and over. But I don’t mind seeing this in Philly since there aren’t many of them there, yet, and the curves create a visual break from the standard right-angle corners. From the design renderings it seems it has actually curving glass , but now upon installation the curving sections just consist of flat glass on bevel angle to each other.
Please stay in Chicago and enjoy your Bears never making the playoffs! 🏈
Will sell out sooner than later!
The building’s off-kilter angle relative to JFK Blvd. gives it a dynamic energy, especially when viewed from the east.