Center City

Commerce Square in the Philadelphia skyline. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look at Commerce Square, Philadelphia’s Twin Towers

7:30 am on June 12, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia is home to many skyscrapers designed by well-known architects from around the world. Among these are the twin towers of Commerce Square, which were designed by the renowned firm of I.M. Pei & Partners. The 565-foot-tall One Commerce Square and Two Commerce Square towers are still prominent on the Philadelphia skyline to this day, and they take up an entire city block at 2001 Market Street and 2005 Market Street in Center City. Both of the 41-story structures are framed in steel, and each is topped with a decorative diamond on the east and west faces. Maguire Thomas Partners was the developer of the towers at the time of the completion of One Commerce Square in 1987 and five years when Two Commerce Square was completed, which was also the time when the developers decided to split their partnership.

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.

East Market Phase 3. Credit: National Real Estate Development / Ennead Architects / Morris Adjmi / BLTa via CDR

Permits Issued for the Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion, Part of East Market Phase 3, at 1101-53 Chestnut Street in Market East, Center City

8:00 am on June 7, 2021 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Permits have been issued for the construction of the Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion at 1101-53 Chestnut Street in Market East, Center City. Developed by National Real Estate Development, the structure will rise 364 feet and 23 stories tall, becoming the tallest addition to the neighborhood in more than three decades. The interior will hold 750,000 square feet of space, most of which will be allocated for medical use by Jefferson Health. The structure is part of the two-tower East Market Phase 3 complex, which is the latest extension to the multi-block East Market development. Philly YIMBY covered the project in extensive detail in a recent feature article.

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.

Permits Issued for One Dock Street in Society Hill, Center City

8:00 am on June 4, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Permits have been issued for One Dock Street, a 31-story, 272-unit residential high-rise in Society Hill, Center City. Designed by Bower Lewis Thrower Architects, he tower will rise 374 feet tall, making it the tallest structure in Society Hill. Amenities will include a roof deck and rooftop pool. The current four-story Marriott Hotel at the site will remain with the new, 288,997-square-foot tower being attached to the existing 63,200-square-foot building. The permit lists construction costs at $66,552,000.

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.

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