Articles by Thomas Koloski

Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion rendering. Image via Jefferson Health

Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion Rises Above Ground at 1101 Chestnut Street in Market East, Center City

8:00 am on August 28, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Construction of the first few floors of the Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion is underway at 1101 Chestnut Street in Center City. The building is a part of a project dubbed East Market Phase 3, which spans several blocks within the Market East neighborhood. Designed by Ennead Architects and Stantec and developed by National Real Estate Development, the tower will stand 372 feet and 23 stories tall and will feature a curvy exterior. The medical office building is part of the massive expansion plans that Jefferson Health is currently implementing in the area.

1620 Sansom Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Excavation Underway at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on August 27, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

After demolition finally wrapped up at 1620 Sansom Street, excavation work is underway for the 340-foot-tall, 28-story high-rise. The tower will stand in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Center City, just two blocks to the south of Liberty Place. The building will feature 306 residential units, as well as commercial space on the ground floor. The earlier iteration’s unit and lesser floor count was bumped up two months ago via a permit filing.

Unfinished Liberty Place design model. Photo from Helmut Jahn

A Look at Early Iterations of Liberty Place When It Was Planned to Rise Under 500 Feet in Height

7:30 am on August 23, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Liberty Place complex in Center City is known for being the first building in Philadelphia to dramatically break the unofficial 548-foot height limit that was set by the statue of William Penn on top of City Hall. Upon completion, One and Two Liberty Place were the tallest skyscrapers on the skyline, standing at a height of 945 and 848 feet, respectively. The towers were designed by Helmut Jahn and developed by Rouse and Associates, which eventually became Liberty Property Trust. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY takes a look back at a number of early iterations of the complex when the towers were planned to stand around or under 500 feet in height.

The Laurel Rittenhouse architectural model crown. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking At the Architectural Model of The Laurel Rittenhouse

7:30 am on August 22, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Architectural models and renderings are a convenient way for the architects and developers to give the public a glimpse at what planned buildings will look like. Residential skyscrapers are particularly notable for displaying detailed architectural models in their showrooms, as a means to show off and advertise the units along with the amenity space. Designed by Solomon Cornwell Buenz and developed by Southern Land Company, The Laurel Rittenhouse is a 599-foot-tall, 48-story residential skyscraper under construction at 1911 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City. In this publication, Philadelphia YIMBY looks at the physical model of The Laurel Rittenhouse, which is located in the building’s sales gallery.

Arthaus architectural model crown. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking at the Architectural Model of Arthaus in Center City

7:30 am on August 20, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In contrast to smaller developments, major skyscraper projects are backed by large teams, which include promotion staff and sales galleries that are open to the public, many with physical models of the building exterior and interiors. Arthaus is a 542-foot-tll condominium under construction at 311 South Broad Street in Center City. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by Dranoff Properties, the tower rises 47 stories and will include 108 residential units, with leasing currently underway. In this publication, Philadelphia YIMBY takes a look at a physical model of the skyscraper, which stands at the sales gallery located at the northeast corner of the ground floor of the Symphony House.

Center City from South Philadelphia 2020 and 2021. Photos by Thomas Koloski

Comparing the 2020 And 2021 Skyline as Seen from South Philadelphia

7:00 am on August 19, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Over the past year, Philadelphia YIMBY has showcased the skyline on a constant basis, which has seen nearly a decade of constant construction. A number of projects have spawned all around the city, producing massive growth. Center City of course receives the most developments, as it is the busiest neighborhood. Other nearby neighborhoods are also joining in on the growth, such as University City. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY compares sections of the Philadelphia skyline via photographs taken this and last year.

Philadelphia skyline from the Girard Point Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Observes the Rising Philadelphia Skyline from the Girard Point Bridge

8:00 am on August 18, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY has been covering the rise of the Philadelphia skyline over a year now. Today we observe the skyline from the Girard Point Bridge, which connects South Philadelphia with Southwest Philadelphia. The bridge had started construction in 1968 and was completed in 1973, just after the completion of One Meridian Plaza and while Centre Square was on the rise. The bridge, which is a double-decker cantilevered truss structure, was repainted in 2011, as it was previously coated in a fading green color. The bridge runs over the mouth of the Schuylkill River, just to the west of the Navy Yard.

The William Penn statue atop City Hall. Credit: James Mitchell via Wikipedia

Looking Back at the Former Proposal to Make the Statue of William Penn Atop City Hall Revolve

7:30 am on August 17, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The 37-foot-tall statue of William Penn atop the City Hall clock tower brings the structure to a full height of 548 feet. As YIMBY discussed in yesterday’s story, the intended south-facing direction of the statue, crafted by sculptor Alexander Milne Calder, was changed at the last minute, and for nearly 127 years the figure has faced northeast. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY looks back at the onetime proposal to have the statue revolve around its axis so it could gaze upon the entire city.

The William Penn statue atop City Hall. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back at the Originally Intended Placement of the Statue of William Penn atop City Hall

8:00 am on August 16, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The statue of William Penn has stood at the very top of Philadelphia City Hall in Center City for well over a hundred years, facing northeast. The large figure of the Quaker was crafted by sculptor Alexander Milne Calder, who also produced the smaller statues just above the clock house and around the entire building. The 548-foot-tall Philadelphia City Hall was designed by John McArthur Jr. and Thomas Ustick Walter, renown architects of their time. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY takes a look back at the original southern direction the statue was supposed to face and at the subsequent change.

PSFS Building unfinished design. Image via philadelphiabuildings.org

YIMBY Presents Massing Renderings Of The Unfinished PSFS Building Design

7:30 am on August 14, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Over the past few months, YIMBY has shared multiple publications on the PSFS Building covering its history and the process of the skyscraper’s design stage. The building is located at 1200 Market Street in Market East, Center City. Depending on the design, the structure may have ended up looking very differently if one of the past iterations went through. The building was designed by George Howe and William Edmond Lescaze, who originally weren’t partnered when George Howe created the first design. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY presents massing renderings of the PSFS Building when the design was nearly finalized, yet still unfinished.

Pages: 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129

Fetching more...

Articles by Thomas Koloski

What’s happening in your backyard?