Articles by Thomas Koloski

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.

Steel Erection Continues Atop the Arthaus in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on May 31, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Since Arthaus at 311 South Broad Street in Center City topped its concrete structure, the pinnacle of the building has seen much construction activity as steel at the parapet continues to rise, nearing its final height of 542 feet. The 47-story tower is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, a firm behind well-known structures such as 30 Hudson Yards and One Vanderbilt in New York City, and the Mellon Bank Center at 1735 Market Street. The developer, Dranoff Properties, owns many properties around the city, such as Symphony House and a future residential building at 337 South Broad Street.

Observing The Comcast Technology Center Shortly After Topping Out

7:00 am on May 30, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Over the past 40 years, Center City has become home to multiple structures over the height of 500 feet. Philadelphia City Hall was the tallest structure in Philadelphia from 1894 to 1986 at 548, then in 1987 the steel structure of One-Liberty-Place eventually passed the statue to soon top out its spire at 945 feet. The same developers of Liberty Place also developed the next tallest skyscraper in the city, the 974-foot Comcast Center from 2007 to 2017. In 2017, across the street to the west, the Comcast Technology Center became the tallest skyscraper in the city since 2017 and its first supertall skyscraper at 1,121 feet. For this development, Comcast had partnered with Liberty Property Trust, which was originally known as Rouse and Associates. The tower was designed by Foster and Partners, which has designed iconic structures such as the Gherkin in London and the Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan. Today Philly YIMBY looks back at the period when the iconic tower’s spire topped out.

Philadelphia 1945 and 2020 south elevation. Model and image by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Compares Massing Renderings of the 1945 and the 2020 Skyline

7:00 am on May 29, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the mid-1940s, the Philadelphia skyline still maintained the general look it received during the construction boom of the 1920s and 1930, when several new towers added significant mass to the Center City skyline. The Philadelphia City Hall still topped the skyline at 548 feet tall, but by the 40s more high-rises were nearing the top of the clock tower, with several rising in the 300-foot range. A number of Art Deco buildings stood out, with predominantly light and dark brown shades. Today Philly YIMBY compares massing renderings of the 1945 skyline and the 2020 skyline.

The Metropolitan, looking northeast, via the building's official website

Taking A Look At The Metropolitan at 117 North 15th Street in Center City

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

A large number of impressive structures rose in Center City in the first three decades of the 20th century. Several were built in close proximity to City Hall, such as The Metropolitan at 117 North 15th Street in Center City. Designed by Louis E. Jallade, who designed various structures in New York and beyond, the high-rise started construction in 1926 and was completed in 1928. The 26-story tower, which stands just to the northeast of the iconic Love Park, currently houses residential space.

Delaware River Trail. Image via Delaware River Waterfront Corporation

Delaware River Trail Underway Near Penn’s Landing Redevelopment in Center City

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

The Delaware River Trail that sits just next to the site of the recently proposed Penn’s Landing redevelopment is underway in between the public space and the Interstate 95. The project is a part the Master Plan for the Central Delaware, which will extend and enhance the waterfront. Developed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, the project will feature open space extending for six miles along the Delaware River from Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia to East Allegheny Avenue in Kensington, with the trail divided into four zones. The public space will feature new vegetation and planting, bi-directional bicycle lanes, solar lighting, and improved public access to the trail.

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Articles by Thomas Koloski

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