Center City

One Meridian Plaza on fire. Image from The Arizona Republic

YIMBY Revisits the Deconstruction of One Meridian Plaza in Center City

8:00 am on June 7, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

During the 1960s and 1970s, multiple developments with massive amounts of office space, occupied by banking firms in particular, were constructed in Center City Philadelphia. Most of these developments featured a light brown Brutalist exterior with contrasting dark glass. Among the first such structures built was One Meridian Plaza, located at 1416 South Penn Square, which stood 492 feet and 38 stories. Designed by Vincent Kling & Associates (later known as KlingStubbins, now part of JACOBS) and developed by the Girard Bank and Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance, the tower started construction in 1968 and was completed in 1972, and featured the light brown stone cladding commonly seen during the period, along with rows of dark glass leading up to the bay windows at the top. The skyscraper eventually met its tragic demise in 1991, and was deconstructed in the following years in a process that YIMBY revisits in today’s feature.

Center City West. Looking north. Credit: Google Maps

YIMBY Observes the Rise of Center City West

8:00 am on June 3, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

Center City West is a section of Center City located roughly between 21st, Chestnut, and Arch streets and the Schuylkill River. For decades, the neighborhood was comprised primarily of parking lots, yet in recent years the area has been on the rise with a large number of projects that have recently been completed, underway, and proposed. The largest developments that have originally been completed in the neighborhood are the PECO Building, completed in 1970, and the Aramark Headquarters which renovated the structure of an existing building at 2400 Market Street in 2019. With Aramark relocating its headquarters to the neighborhood, the company saw the potential of the area’s growth. 2222 Market Street, the first development of the new construction wave was revealed in 2019, and is currently underway.

Philadelphia 1987 One Liberty Place south elevation. Models and image by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Shares a Detailed Model of One Liberty Place in Center City

8:00 am on May 31, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

As the 35th anniversary for the topping-out of One Liberty Place‘s spire was commemorated, Philadelphia YIMBY has assembled a high-quality model of the skyscraper. Located at 1650 Market Street in Center City, the tower is a milestone in the skyline and Philadelphia history as it broke free of the height limit once set by City Hall and improved the city’s image. While heavily criticized by some at the time of proposal, the office tower was eventually given the green light to stand 61 stories high and 945 feet tall. The tower and the second phase of the project was designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn and developed by Willard G. Rouse III of Rouse and Associates. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY observes an accurately detailed model of One Liberty Place on the 1987 skyline massing.

Rendering of One Dock Street. Credit: BLT Architects.

One Dock Street Popping Into View From Society Hill, Center City

8:00 am on May 30, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

Despite opposition from preservationists, the long-awaited tower at One Dock Street is underway in Society Hill, Center City. The apartment building will stand 372 feet tall and 31 stories. Designed by Philadelphia-based BLT Architects and developed by LCOR Incorporated, the slim yet sizeable tower will feature 272 rental apartments and will connect to the Marriott Hotel adjacent to the site. The high-rise will join architect I. M. Pei’s three Society Hill Towers that have dominated the area since 1964.

Virgin Hotels looking southwest. Image via The Badger Group

YIMBY Looks at the Two-Tower Virgin Hotel Proposal in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on May 20, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

The South Broad Street skyscraper canyon will possibly be extended in the near future with the two-tower Virgin Hotel development at 500 South Broad Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, bringing new skyline mass to an unexpected location. While the buildings’ heights remain unconfirmed, renderings indicate that the taller tower will rise 36 stories high while the shorter tower will stand 23 stories. The project is being developed by The Badger Group, Dranoff Properties, The Goldenberg Group LLC, and of course Virgin Hotels USA. The development was designed by Skidmore Owings and Merril, which has crafted iconic towers such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, and One World Trade Center in New York City.

Jefferson University Caroline Kimmel Biomedical Research Center at 214 South 9th Street. Rendering credit: Payette

YIMBY Shares Renderings for Jefferson University Caroline Kimmel Biomedical Research Center in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on May 14, 2022 By Vitali Ogorodnikov

Recently Philadelphia YIMBY shared photos of current site conditions at the future site of Jefferson University Caroline Kimmel Biomedical Research Center, an 11-story medical and laboratory building proposed at 214 South 9th Street in Washington Square West, Center City. Designed by Payette, the building will feature common areas on the lower levels and research labs on the floors above. Today we share additional renderings for the development.

Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion (1101 Chestnut Street) via Jefferson Health

Facade Passes Halfway Point at Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion in Market East, Center City

8:00 am on May 12, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

The Market East neighborhood of Center City is currently a hotspot for construction, with the Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion at 1101 Chestnut Street as one of its most significant projects. Designed by Ennead Architects and Stantec and developed by Jefferson Health and National Real Estate Development, the structure stands 372 feet and 23 stories tall and will features a stunning undulating facade, Jefferson signage near the pinnacle, and a small park to the west. The large building will be a prominent addition to the neighborhood with a refreshing design.

The Laurel Rittenhouse rendering. Image via Southern Land Company

Crane Disassembly Underway at The Laurel Rittenhouse in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on May 11, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

The construction crane is currently being dismantled at The Laurel Rittenhouse. The skyscraper, located at 1911 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, stands 604 feet and 48 floors tall. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Southern Land Company, the project features 185 rental units and 64 condominiums, along with amenity space and retail. According to the developer, the tower is already 50 percent sold out.

W/Element Hotel, Arthaus, and City Hall. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Occupancy Imminent at Arthaus in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on May 5, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

In Washington Square West, Arthaus at 311 South Broad Street has become the latest addition to the Philadelphia skyline. The nearly completed tower rises to a height of 542 feet and 47 stories and will feature 108 condominium units, along with ample amenity space and retail. The building, which stand somewhat apart from the main Center City skyline, was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, which has also crafted buildings such as the BNY Mellon Center and One Vanderbilt, and developed by Dranoff Properties.

Philadelphia 1985 Liberty Place massing south elevation. Models and image by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Presents Revised Massings Of The 1985 Liberty Place Iteration

7:30 am on April 29, 2022 By Thomas Koloski

On May 13, 1985, celebrations were held for the groundbreaking for the first phase of the Liberty Place complex in Center City, with another office tower, mall, and hotel under construction by February 1988. The towers, located at 1650 Market Street and 50 East 16th Street, were designed by Helmut Jahn of Murphy/Jahn. Originally One Liberty Place was meant to stand 915 feet, while the shorter Two Liberty Place was proposed to rise 708 feet and 48 stories tall. The project was developed by Willard G. Rouse III of Rouse and Associates, which had eventually transformed into Liberty Property Trust. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY shares revised versions of our custom-made skyline massings of the 1985 Liberty Place design.

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