Articles by Thomas Koloski

Skylink Aerial Tramway. Image via Delaware River Port Authority

Looking at the Canceled Skylink Aerial Tramway across the Delaware River

7:30 am on May 27, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

While Philadelphia has seen many projects that were eventually never built, one of the most unique is the Skylink Aerial Tramway proposed to span across the Delaware River, featuring gondolas running on suspended cables. Developed by the Delaware River Port Authority, thus uncommon form of transportation was supposed to connect Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront to Camden, NJ on the east bank of the Delaware River. The trams were planned to move at 160 feet above the river, with both of the towers standing at a total height of 250 feet. The development was projected to complete construction in Spring 2002, but due to the continuous rising budget along with various other issues, including mounting criticism, the project was eventually canceled.

Philadelphia skyline from South Street Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Spots Window Washers on Philadelphia Highrises

7:30 am on May 25, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Skyscrapers that make up the Philadelphia’s skyline must be maintained to keep a clean look that enhances the city. Though most of the cleaning takes place in warmer conditions, the towers are cleaned during all four seasons, with workers daring the conditions high above the ground. Today, Philadelphia YIMBY exhibits the crews of people who take on the hallenge to keep these large structures in good condition.

2100 Hamilton Street rendering from Cecil Baker and Partners

Facade Nearly Complete at 2100 Hamilton Street in Franklintown

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

The mirror-like façade is nearing completion at 2100 Hamilton Street, an 11-story condominium located in Franklintown, North Philadelphia. Designed by Cecil Baker + Partners and developed by Bock Development Group, the 115-foot-tall building will have 27 units, many of which will offer pleasant views of the skyline and the Museum of Art. The site is situated near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, allowing the building to be seen from some views along the iconic roadway.

900 North 8th Street via Cosica Mood Architecture

900 North 8th Street Site Remains Cluttered In Poplar, North Philadelphia

7:30 am on May 24, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Poplar neighborhood in North Philadelphia continues to grow, with new developments nearing completion, under construction, or in planning. At 900 North Street, a project called The Delilah will consist of two buildings connected by sky bridges. Designed by Cosica Moos Architecture and developed by the APOM Holdings, the project will feature the east building rising to a total height of 134 feet and 11 stories, while the west building will rise 154 feet and 12 stories. The development is sited across from The Poplar, which YIMBY recently covered in a tour.

Center City from South Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Observes Tower Cranes in the Growing Skyline

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

The growth of the Philadelphia skyline has significantly accelerated in the past five years, with projects like the Comcast Technology Center, FMC Tower, W/Element Hotel having been recently finished and more new towers currently under construction. Of course, tower cranes have a prominent presence at each high-rise construction site, whether freestanding or attached to the skeleton of the building. This collection of photos observes the tower cranes that are currently rising in the Philadelphia skyline in areas ranging from Center City to West Philadelphia and even North Philadelphia.

Philadelphia skyline from Live! Casino and Hotel garage. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Observes The Rising Philadelphia Skyline From The Live! Casino and Hotel In The Sports Complex District, South Philadelphia

8:00 am on May 22, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Today YIMBY looks at the skyline from a brand new viewpoint at the Live! Casino and Hotel, which has a fantastic view of the Center City towers. The photographs in this publication are taken from the parking garage, located to the south of the hotel portion of the entire project along with being to the south to the skyline. The hotel is located two blocks to the north of Citizens Bank Park, in the Sports Complex District in South Philadelphia.

Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers. Photo and edit by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Presents Renderings of the Once-Proposed Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers

8:00 am on May 21, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In February, Philly YIMBY published an examination of the Twin Independence Blue Cross Tower proposal that was planned in the mid-1980s. The Independence Blue Cross Tower were designed by WZMH Architects, who also designed the CN Tower in Toronto, Canda. The developer, The Linpro Company, intended to build two 45-story towers on the 1900 block of Market Street. Each would have stood 625 feet tall, located 1901 Market Street and 1919 Market Street in Center City. If built as a twin pair, they would have stood next to the 565-foot Commerce Square towers, another pair of twin high-rises.

The Lewis Tower from Arthaus. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look At The Lewis Tower At 1425 Locust Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

7:00 am on May 21, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

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.

Philadelphia skyline lit up from South Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the New Lighting Schemes in the Philadelphia Skyline

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

Last month, Philadelphia YIMBY reported on new lighting schemes that are decorating the nighttime skyline. Though it was already known that One Liberty Place at 1650 Market Street and the W/Element Hotel at 1441 Chestnut Street, both located in Center City, are having their lighting tested, both now feature together in the skyline, with new programming visible to the residents of the city. The lights on One Liberty Place, which used to be dimmer and had sections of the lighting noticeably lit a different color, the lights have now been fixed and brightened. The W/Element Hotel used to be a dark skyscraper in the night time skyline with just the aviation warning lights noticeable, but now the skyscraper is lit up nearly as much as the FMC Tower in University City.

Girard Trust Building from City Hall. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Taking a Look at The Girard Trust Building at 28-32 South Broad Street in Center City

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

At the end of the 1920s, right before the Great Depression, builders in Philadelphia had proposed several high-rise banks, which were constructed rapidly in the coming years. One of such towers was the Girard Trust Building at 28-32 South Broad Street, which stands just to the south of City Hall in Center City to the east of the site where One Meridian Plaza would later stand. Designed by Furness, Evans & Co. and McKim, Mead & White, which McKim, Mead & White, the latter being the architect for the old Penn Station in New York City, the skyscraper rises 394 feet and 30 stories tall. The structure was completed in 1931, the same year as the Empire State Building.

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Articles by Thomas Koloski

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