Articles by Thomas Koloski

One Cathedral Square. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Cathedral Square Phase One Takes Shape at 222 North 17th Street in Logan Square, Center City

8:00 am on July 24, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The first phase of the Cathedral Square development is underway and rising at 222 North 17th Street in Logan Square, Center City. The building, at this time known as Cathedral Square Phase 1, will rise 245 feet and 23 stories tall. The tower is designed by Solomon Cornwell Buenz, which had also designed the Murano condominium and The Laurel Rittenhouse, which is currently under construction. The two-tower complex is being developed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Exeter Property Group, which will span much of the city block that is situated three blocks to the north of the Comcast Center.

Crane Removed From Arthaus At 311 South Broad Street In Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on July 23, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The large crane that was attached to the south side of Arthaus at 311 South Broad Street in Center City has been removed from the structure. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by Dranoff Properties, the 47-story tower stands 542 feet high and will have 108 condominium units, with leasing already underway. The tower has grown into the skyline over the past year and is looking close to completion.

Philadelphia skyline 1905 and 1987 south elevation. Photo by Thomas Koloski

City Hall versus One Liberty Place: Philadelphia YIMBY Compares Massing Renderings of the 1905 and the 1987 Skyline

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

The 20th Century was a key period for development in Philadelphia, with numerous remarkable structures built in the 100-year time period. At the very start of the century, City Hall was finishing construction in the heart of the city, with the William Penn Statue was topped on the structure six years beforehand. The 548-foot masonry structure was completed in 1901. Flashing forward to 1987, an even more massive monolith was finishing construction: One Liberty Place in Center City, which stands 945 feet tall. Philadelphia YIMBY compares the time periods when the two giants dominated the skyline fresh upon completion.

2100 Hamilton Street rendering from Cecil Baker and Partners

Facade Complete at 2100 Hamilton Street in Franklintown

8:00 am on July 20, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Facade work has been completed at the 11-story development at 2100 Hamilton Street in Franklintown (also known as Baldwin Park). Designed by Cecil Baker + Partners and developed by the Bock Development Group, the building stands 115 feet tall and will have 27 condominium units. Situated within a short walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and just to the north of the Center City skyscrapers, the project brings a modern look to an area that does not see much new development.

Philadelphia-Red Bank Bridge. Image via Courier Post

Looking Back at the Unbuilt Red Bank Bridge Proposal in South Philadelphia

7:30 am on July 19, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the 1920s, Philadelphia was on the rise, with industry and was with business activity bustling across the city. The port was generally busy, the skyline was growing, and as automobiles surged in numbers, the city was in need of bridges spanning the Delaware River and connecting to New Jersey on the other side. The proposed Philadelphia-Red Bank Bridge was brought to public attention by Mayor J. Hampton Moore, who suggested that the city is in dire need of a new bridge at its south end. The bridge would have been situated very close to the present location of the Walt Whitman Bridge, though slightly further west and running from the north to the south rather than from the west to the east.

Comcast Technology Center under construction July 2016. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the Comcast Technology Center After the Topping Out of the Concrete Core

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

The majority of Philadelphia’s tallest skyscrapers stand in Center City to the west of City Hall, which include the Comcast Technology Center at 1800 Arch Street. The supertall, which is the tallest building in the city, has risen into the skyline between 2014 and 2017. Designed by Foster + Partners, the tower’s structure is compromised of a central concrete core surrounded with a steel frame, with the facade mostly clad in glass and metal. The tower was developed by Liberty Property Trust, which collaborated with Comcast to erect their second tower in the city. In this article, Philadelphia YIMBY takes a look back to when the Comcast Technology Center was under construction at the time when the core had just topped out.

One Liberty Place and W/Element Hotel lighting. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Nighttime Lighting Upgrades Possibly in the Works at Several Philadelphia Skyscrapers

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

The Philadelphia skyline features a fantastic collection of prominent skyscrapers that shimmer during the day. But at night, particularly from certain angles, the skyline can be underwhelming with the amount of darkness, despite a number of bright displays. Many of the towers were not originally designed with decorative lighting, while illumination at others has faded or otherwise deteriorated over the years, so the ones still have well-maintained nighttime lighting are greatly appreciated for their look. The majority of skyscrapers that are illuminated are at some of the tallest in the city, and most of them were built around the same time period in the late 1980s within the same part of Center City. But given a number of recent developments, it is possible that original lighting schemes on a number of skyscrapers are being restored to their original look.

Observing the Comcast Technology Center Shortly After Crane Removal

7:00 am on July 16, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Comcast Technology Center at 1800 Arch Street in Center City has dominated the Philadelphia skyline ever since it became the city’s tallest skyscraper in 2017. The tower rises 62 stories and 1,121 feet tall, topped with a bright beacon. The tower was designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, who has done many well-known projects around the world notable for their exteriors of glass, metal, and decorative lighting. The developer of the project is Liberty Property Trust, which had also developed One Liberty Place when the company was known as Rouse and Associates under Willard Rouse. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY looks back at when the crane was first removed from the near-completed Comcast Technology Center.

PSFS Building. Image from Hagley Digital Archives

A Look Back at the Construction Of The PSFS Building at 1200 Market Street in Market East, Center City

8:00 am on July 15, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the early 1900s, skyscrapers of ever-increasing heights began to rise all over the world, including in Philadelphia. By the late 1920s, the Philadelphia Savings and Fund Society was looking for extra space in the city and was looking to construct a new building for their needs. The PSFS selected architects George Howe and William Edmond Lescaze to design a skyscraper that would stand at 1200 Market Street. Upon its completion in 1932, the PSFS Building not only dominated the skyline with its height of 491 feet and 36 stories, but was also notable as one of the first major International-style skyscrapers in the world.

TRIAD1828 and American Water. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back at the Construction of the TRIAD1828 Centre in Camden, New Jersey

8:00 am on July 14, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

One of the largest developments in the city of Camden was constructed just a few years ago. The project, called the TRIAD1828 Centre, stands next to the Delaware River and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which is not far from where the Campbell’s Stadium used to stand. The tower stands 18 stories above the ground, with a full height rising 220 feet high. The first seven levels are designated for a parking garage, with office floors rising above the parking podium. The building was originally developed by Liberty Property Trust, which backed out and allowed NFI Corp., Conner Strong & Buckelew, and the Michaels Organization to take over ownership of the property. The project went through several design iterations, with one featuring a curving glass tower standing as high as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The final design was crafted by Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

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Articles by Thomas Koloski

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