Philadelphia is home to a sizable collection of intricately designed skyscrapers that were built between 1920 and 1940, which still stand out on the cityscape despite being drastically shorter than the modern towers of Center City. The east side of the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood features many towers built within that time frame, including The Lewis Tower, now known as The Aria Condos at 1425 Locust Street. The structure rises 389 feet and 33 stories tall, just one block to the north of the 375-foot-tall tower known as The Drake. The skyscraper was designed by Edmund Gilchrist, and Gravell and Hall engineered the steel structure. The Art Deco building was completed in 1929.
The Lewis Tower from a nearby garage. Photo by Thomas Koloski
The tower was completed in the same year as The Drake, but the Lewis Tower stood out prominently with its bright stone cladding. When the tower was completed, it was one of the tallest structures in the city at the time, though more massive Art Deco towers are located near the office building. The structure was purchased in 2005 and had its exterior retouched and interiors converted into condominiums. The tower is now managed by Madison Parke.
The Lewis Tower from South 15th Street. Photo by Thomas Koloski
To this day, the tower can still be seen in the skyline, with its crown poking out from buildings that now stand in the way from many views. The brick-clad Academy House annoyingly blocks the tower with its horrible massing along with 1500 Locust Street, but from certain views from the South the towers open up to perfectly showcase The Lewis Tower. With the restoration of the tower completed in 2009, the skin of the building has had an incredibly bright exterior during a clear sunny day, just like when the towers materials were fresh back when the tower was completed.
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Simple but absolutely beautiful building. And I agree with the commentary on the Academy House.