Center City

PSFS Building. Image from Hagley Digital Archives

A Look Back at the Construction Of The PSFS Building at 1200 Market Street in Market East, Center City

In the early 1900s, skyscrapers of ever-increasing heights began to rise all over the world, including in Philadelphia. By the late 1920s, the Philadelphia Savings and Fund Society was looking for extra space in the city and was looking to construct a new building for their needs. The PSFS selected architects George Howe and William Edmond Lescaze to design a skyscraper that would stand at 1200 Market Street. Upon its completion in 1932, the PSFS Building not only dominated the skyline with its height of 491 feet and 36 stories, but was also notable as one of the first major International-style skyscrapers in the world.

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2400 Market Street (left). Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look Back at the Aramark Headquarters Renovation at 2400 Market Street in Center City West

Aramark, a food service provider, has been based in the Philadelphia area for many years, with the company’s headquarters is located in Center City. Before the its present location at 2400 Market Street by the Schuylkill River, the company was headquartered at 1101 Market Street in Market East. Designed by Varenhorst Architects and Gensler and developed by the PMC Property Group, the new headquarters involved a renovation of an existing structure with a five-story extension built at the top. The renovated building stands nine stories, bringing a modern design to an area where older architecture predominates. The project also includes retail, residential, and office space.

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Rendering of 417-25 Callowhill Street. Credit: Bernardon.

417-25 Callowhill Street in Northern Liberties Goes to the Civic Design Review

The Civic Design Review is looking at a seven-story, 219-unit multi-family development proposed at 417-25 Callowhill Street in Northern Liberties. Designed by Bernardon, the building will feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, as well as 29,980 square feet of amenities and 71 parking spaces. A large roof deck will be included in the project. In total, the project will include.

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Philadelphia 1905 and 2020 south elevation. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Presents a Massing Animation of the Philadelphia Skyline from 1905 to 2020

Over the past few months, YIMBY has published multiple features on how the Philadelphia skyline grew over the years via custom-made three dimensional projections. In the past decade, numerous buildings have risen around Center City and beyond. Most of these have been constructed near City Hall and along Market Street, close to the main skyline core. Today we present animations of how the city skyline grew in a 115-year time span from 1905 to 2020.

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