Center City

First scheme of the PSFS Building. Image via George Howe

Looking Back at Early Iterations of the PSFS Building

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

Earlier this year, Philadelphia YIMBY ran two features (one introductory and another covering construction) on the iconic PSFS Building at 1200 Market Street in Market East, Center City. The sizable high-rise, developed for the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, was a modern marvel at the time it was built, and to this day it still makes an impression with its height and history. The 36-story building stands 491 feet tall, with the antenna bringing the total height to 792 feet. The tower was designed by George Howe and William Edmond Lescaze, who made a few iterations of the design before arriving at a version that became one of the first major International-style skyscrapers.

Rendering of 1209-15 Vine Street. Credit: Cadre Design.

Permits Issued for Vine Street Apartments at 1209-15 Vine Street in Callowhill

7:30 am on July 27, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Permits have been issued for Vine Street Apartments, a 120-unit large multi-family development located at 1201-15 Vine Street (with an alternate address of 1201-1209 Vine Street) in Callowhill. Designed by Cadre Design, the development involves horizontal and vertical extensions to an existing building at the site. Upon completion, the structure will stand eight stories tall and will include 36 mechanical parking spaces. In total, the building will offer 83,635 square feet of space and cost an estimated $10 million to build.

The Laurel Rittenhouse. Credit: Southern Land Company

Residential Floors Topped Out at The Laurel Rittenhouse at 1911 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on July 26, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The residential floors of The Laurel Rittenhouse at 1911 Walnut Street, in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Center City, have been topped out. The skyscraper now rises 48 stories into the sky, nearing its final height of 599 feet. The tower was developed by Southern Land Company and designed by Solomon Cornwell Buenz, which has also designed the 27-story tower planned at 1620 Sansom Street. The building will offer 185 rental apartments as well as 64 condominiums at the upper floors. The condo section will offer a private entrance, lobby, and elevators, as well as parking included with every condo unit. The building will feature an amenity space on the 26th floor, as well as an Equinox gym within the lower floors.

Terrace on 18th Street. Image by Gabe Lui Architectural Renderings

Street Level Work Nearly Complete at the Terrace on 18th Street in Logan Square, Center City

8:00 am on July 25, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Renovation work at the Terrace on 18th Street at 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Logan Square, Center City, is nearing completion, as the retail space in the eastern portion of the building looks nearly finished. Designed by Oskar Stonorov of Korman Co., the original structure was built in 1963 as an apartment building known as The Plaza. The tower, which stands 267 feet and 27 stories tall, was converted into the Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Center City in the 1980s. The structure has been under the ownership of Pearl Properties since last year.

One Cathedral Square. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

Cathedral Square Phase One Takes Shape at 222 North 17th Street in Logan Square, Center City

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

The first phase of the Cathedral Square development is underway and rising at 222 North 17th Street in Logan Square, Center City. The building, at this time known as Cathedral Square Phase 1, will rise 245 feet and 23 stories tall. The tower is designed by Solomon Cornwell Buenz, which had also designed the Murano condominium and The Laurel Rittenhouse, which is currently under construction. The two-tower complex is being developed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Exeter Property Group, which will span much of the city block that is situated three blocks to the north of the Comcast Center.

Crane Removed From Arthaus At 311 South Broad Street In Washington Square West, Center City

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

The large crane that was attached to the south side of Arthaus at 311 South Broad Street in Center City has been removed from the structure. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by Dranoff Properties, the 47-story tower stands 542 feet high and will have 108 condominium units, with leasing already underway. The tower has grown into the skyline over the past year and is looking close to completion.

Rendering of 1428-38 Callowhill Street. Credit: J2a Architects.

Renderings Revealed for 13-Story High-Rise at 1428-38 Callowhill Street in Callowhill

8:00 am on July 22, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

Renderings have been revealed for a high-rise residential development at 1428-38 Callowhill Street in Callowhill. Designed by j2a Architects, the tower will rise 149 feet and 13 stories tall. The building will include 162 residential with off-street parking and 74 bicycle spaces.

Comcast Technology Center under construction July 2016. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the Comcast Technology Center After the Topping Out of the Concrete Core

7:00 am on July 19, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The majority of Philadelphia’s tallest skyscrapers stand in Center City to the west of City Hall, which include the Comcast Technology Center at 1800 Arch Street. The supertall, which is the tallest building in the city, has risen into the skyline between 2014 and 2017. Designed by Foster + Partners, the tower’s structure is compromised of a central concrete core surrounded with a steel frame, with the facade mostly clad in glass and metal. The tower was developed by Liberty Property Trust, which collaborated with Comcast to erect their second tower in the city. In this article, Philadelphia YIMBY takes a look back to when the Comcast Technology Center was under construction at the time when the core had just topped out.

One Liberty Place and W/Element Hotel lighting. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Nighttime Lighting Upgrades Possibly in the Works at Several Philadelphia Skyscrapers

8:00 am on July 18, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Philadelphia skyline features a fantastic collection of prominent skyscrapers that shimmer during the day. But at night, particularly from certain angles, the skyline can be underwhelming with the amount of darkness, despite a number of bright displays. Many of the towers were not originally designed with decorative lighting, while illumination at others has faded or otherwise deteriorated over the years, so the ones still have well-maintained nighttime lighting are greatly appreciated for their look. The majority of skyscrapers that are illuminated are at some of the tallest in the city, and most of them were built around the same time period in the late 1980s within the same part of Center City. But given a number of recent developments, it is possible that original lighting schemes on a number of skyscrapers are being restored to their original look.

Observing the Comcast Technology Center Shortly After Crane Removal

7:00 am on July 16, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Comcast Technology Center at 1800 Arch Street in Center City has dominated the Philadelphia skyline ever since it became the city’s tallest skyscraper in 2017. The tower rises 62 stories and 1,121 feet tall, topped with a bright beacon. The tower was designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, who has done many well-known projects around the world notable for their exteriors of glass, metal, and decorative lighting. The developer of the project is Liberty Property Trust, which had also developed One Liberty Place when the company was known as Rouse and Associates under Willard Rouse. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY looks back at when the crane was first removed from the near-completed Comcast Technology Center.

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