Articles by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia skyline from I-95. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the Growing Philadelphia Skyline from the Interstate 95

7:00 am on June 9, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Multiple highways around Center City offer great perspectives of the Philadelphia skyline. One of the best vantage points located along the Interstate 95, which presents a look at the skyline where the towers scatter in broad view from east to west, with underway developments in multiple neighborhoods easy to pinpoint. Of course, the Center City skyscrapers stand out prominently, and even smaller towers rising in Center City West can be seen from the view.

Two Liberty Place from One Liberty Place. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking at Two Liberty Place, Philadelphia’s Fourth-Tallest Building, in Center City

8:00 am on June 8, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The majority of the skyscrapers that dominate the Philadelphia skyline are the trophy towers that were built in the late 1980s. One of these buildings is the 848-foot-tall, 58-story Two Liberty Place at 50 South 16th Street in Center City, the city’s fourth-tallest building. The skyscraper is a part of the Liberty Place complex that consists of two towers connected by a mall and a hotel. The skyscraper was designed by Helmut Jahn, who also designed buildings such as MesseTurm in Frankfurt, Germany, 50 West Street in New York City, and the Bank of America Tower in Jacksonville, Florida, among many others. The developer of the project was Rouse and Associates, which eventually transformed into Liberty Property Trust, which built both of the Comcast skyscrapers that today dominate the skyline.

Mellon Bank Center crown. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look at the BNY Mellon Center at 1735 Market Street in Center City

7:00 am on June 7, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Center City skyline had drastically changed in the late 1980s with the construction of newly approved skyscrapers standing over the former, informal 548-foot height limit established by City Hall. In late 1990, Mellon Bank Center, located at 1735 Market Street in Center City, joined the skyline with its bright materials alongside the other new, amazingly designed skyscrapers. The tower stands 54 stories above the ground with a total height of 824 feet to the tip of the crown and a roof height of 792 feet. The skyscraper was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, which is currently constructing Arthaus a few blocks to the south of City Hall. The tower is owned by Silverstein Properties, which also owns the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The building received a name change for a branding initiative, and is now called the BNY Mellon Center.

Bell Atlantic Tower from Logan Square. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look At Three Logan Square in Logan Square, Center City

7:30 am on June 6, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The construction boom of the 1980s brought a new generation of skyscrapers, many of which still make up the principal mass of the Philadelphia skyline. One of these skyscrapers is the Bell Atlantic Tower at 1717 Arch Street, now known as Three Logan Square. Designed by designed by Kling Lindquist, the building stands at an imposing height of 739 feet and 55 stories. The all-steel structure was constructed by Turner Construction. The skyscraper, located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Center City, has a notable presence both during day and night, as the cladding features an eye-catching mix of colors as well as incredible nighttime lighting.

The Laurel Rittenhouse Square from Market Street. Photo by Thomas Koloski

The Laurel Rittenhouse Square Nearing Topping Out in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

7:30 am on June 4, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In recent weeks, the Laurel Rittenhouse Square has been rising at a steady pace, and is now leaving an imposing presence on the Philadelphia skyline. The tower, located at 1911 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, is growing to reach a final height of 599 feet and 48 floors. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Southern Land Company, the skyscraper will hold 160 rental apartment units and 85 luxury units.

W/Element Hotel south face. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back at the W/Element Hotel Rising Into the Philadelphia Skyline

7:00 am on June 4, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

One of the most significant skyscrapers recently constructed in Philadelphia is the W/Element Hotel at 1441 Chestnut Street in Center City. Located at the former site of the demolished One Meridian Plaza, the tower went through several design changes and different architectural firms, with Cope-Linder Architects being the final choice. The site also went through different developers, with Chestlen Development Group ending up as the final developer. The proposal was revealed in 2013, and now the tower is finally nearing completion. Today Philly YIMBY looks at the tower’s construction progress over the years.

Riverwalk South Tower Core Topped in Center City West

8:00 am on June 3, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Riverwalk development has been making headlines recently when the massive GIANT supermarket opened in May. Designed by Gensler and developed by PMC Property Group, the two-tower project, located at 60 North 23rd Street in Center City West, is adding skyline mass along the Schuylkill River, with the south tower currently nearing its final height of 362 feet and 32 stories. The north tower has already reached its 315-foot-tall pinnacle some time ago. This project, along with others such as 2222 Market Street nearby, is creating a new high-density neighborhood where construction will soon boom work gets underway at more developments.

Arthaus in the Philadelphia skyline from New Jersey. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Watching the Rising Philadelphia Skyline from New Jersey over the Past Few Years

7:00 am on June 3, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Over the past five years, the Philadelphia skyline entered a new stage where the addition of new high-rise buildings with imposing heights and impressive floor space has greatly elevated the city’s skyscraper profile. The new developments range greatly in height, and includes the city’s first supertall skyscraper, the Comcast Technology Center. The growth that is happening now is nearly as impressive as the 1980s skyscraper boom in Center City, which brought a series of iconic structures with creative designs, such as Liberty Place, the Mellon Bank Center, the Bell Atlantic Tower, and others. Today, Philadelphia YIMBY tracks the rise of the skyline rising from a single location several miles away in New Jersey.

Bell Atlantic Tower. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look At Past Designs for the Bell Atlantic Tower in Logan Square, Center City

8:00 am on June 2, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the 1980s, new skyscraper proposals surged after the proposed Liberty Place project was poised to break the 548-foot height limit established by the tower of City Hall. Five of the proposals now stand in the skyline, which include the 739-foot-tall Bell Atlantic Tower at 1717 Arch Street in Logan Square, Center City. Designed by Kling Lindquist, the setbacks of the 55-story skyscraper were partially inspired by structures such as the Empire State Building and One Liberty Place, which itself is similar to the Chrysler Building. Brandywine Realty Trust has owned the skyscraper since 2010, and is now officially known as Three Logan Square. Today Philly YIMBY looks at the alternate designs that were once considered for the structure.

Riverwalk north tower from I-76. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Interior Work Continues at the Riverwalk North Tower in Center City West

8:00 am on June 1, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Though the first portion of the Riverwalk North tower at 60 North 23rd Street opened back in March, work continues at the residential interiors, which will soon wrap construction. Designed by Gensler, the Riverwalk project consists of two towers standing atop four-story podiums holding retail space. The north tower is the shorter of the two, at a height of 315 feet and 28 stories. The south tower stands 362 feet tall with 32 stories. The project is developed by PMC Property Group, which is also behind other in-progress projects that are helping transform Center City West into a development hub. Notably, Gensler’s founder, Art Gensler, has recently passed away on May 10th, just two days after the passing of Helmut Jahn, another architect notable for his contributions to Philadelphia and beyond.

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Articles by Thomas Koloski

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