Center City

Philadelphia skyline 1985 south elevation. Image and models by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Presents Massings of the 1985 Skyline

8:00 am on April 15, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the mid-1980s, the Philadelphia skyline rose as an even, roughly 500-foot plateau, particularly when viewed from the north and south. Though the skyline spanned a great expanse length-wise, it remained at a low profile, in great part thanks to the “Gentlemen’s Agreement” to not build above the 548-foot-tall pinnacle of the City Hall, which sat just beneath the 37-foot-tall statue of William Penn, the state’s founder. Philly YIMBY presents exclusive massing renderings of the city skyline just as it appeared in 1985, just before One Commerce Square and One Liberty Place both broke ground, starting their challenge to the skyline in the summer.

Arthaus rendering. Photo and edit by Thomas Koloski

Arthaus Nears Top of Parapet in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on April 14, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Arthaus condominium under construction at 311 South Broad Street in Center City is nearing the very top of the parapet, which will stand at at an impressive height of 542 feet. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by Dranoff Properties, the 45-story skyscraper features a bright and modern design. The tower will include 107 units and amenity and retail space on the first four floors, along with green roofs at the top of the podium and at the roof. The building’s design is perfect for the Philadelphia skyline as the tower keeps a blocky profile while changing form as it steps up to a square crown, with the metal cladding thickening around the edges as it opens up on the glass faces to have thinner metal run vertical up the tower with spaces dividing the rows.

The Drake. Photo via Murphy, Quigley Company

Taking a Look At The Drake at 1512 Spruce Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on April 13, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

While Philadelphia did not build massive art deco skyscrapers in the 1920s, there still were buildings that were constructed with fantastic designs in Center City such as The Drake at 1512 Spruce Street. The tower rises 33 floors above ground and stands at an impressive height of 375 feet. The tower was designed by Verus Shay and Howell Lewis Shay of the architectural firm Ritter and Shay, who have designed a building with such an incredible design with a wide profile when viewed from the east and west. The north and south profile is incredibly thin, with brickwork running up to the angled and curved tops of the Art Deco and Spanish Baroque design. The structure was constructed by Murphy, Quigley Company and was completed in 1929.

Rendering Revealed for 1134 Pine Street in Washington Square West, Center City

7:00 am on April 13, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

A rendering has been revealed for a mixed-use renovation situated at 1134 Pine Street in Washington Square West, Center City. The project will involve the renovation of an existing four-story structure. A commercial space will be situated on the ground floor. Above, the building will feature six residential units on the upper three floors. Zoubek Properties is the developer for the project.

1101 Walnut Street via Civic Design Review

Demolition Underway at 1101 Walnut Street in Washington Square West, Center City

8:00 am on April 12, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Demolition work has commenced on the many properties at the site of the high-rise proposed at 1101 Walnut Street in Washington Square West, Center City. The future structure will rise to a height of 259 feet and 23 stories. Designed by JKRP Architects and developed by ARD 1105 Walnut LLC and LD Investment Partners LLC, the tower will feature 111 residential units nearly 6,000 square feet of retail at the ground floor. The building will rise directly across a helipad on top of a Jefferson Health property, which had lowered the height of the 12th and Sansom proposal nearby.

Second Crane Erected at East Market Phase 3 Site in Market East, Center City

8:00 am on April 11, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

A second tower crane has been erected at East Market Phase 3, the two-tower project under construction at 1101 Chestnut Street and 1153 Chestnut Street in Market East, Center City, two blocks to the south of Reading Terminal Market. The 372-foot Thomas Jefferson Specialty Care Pavilion was designed by Ennead Architects and Stantec, and the 329-foot residential tower to the east is designed by Morris Adjmi Architects. The Jefferson building will have a wavy glass exterior, while the other tower will be clad with glass and orange terracotta with rounded edges. National Real Estate Group is the developer for the project.

Permits Issued for 49-Story, 183-Unit Tower at 113 South 19th Street in Center City

7:30 am on April 11, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

A commercial permit has been issued for the 49-story tower planned at 113 South 19th Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City has received its commercial building permits. The tower will stand one of Philadelphia’s tallest with a height of 567 feet. The building will hold 183 residential units which will be located on the fifth through 48th floors of the tower, and the fourth floor is set to hold residential amenity space. Additional tenant spaces will be on the first through third floors as well as the 49th. The tower, designed by DAS Architects & Planning and developed by Pearl Properties, will feature a green roof at the top of the structure. In total, the superstructure will hold 257,694 square feet of space. The permit shows construction costs of $25 million, but the total cost of construction is sure to be more.

1620 Sansom Street massing. Original image from Google Earth, edit and model by Thomas Koloski

Demolition Imminent at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on April 9, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The mid-century parking garage at 1620 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, is being prepared for demolition, with the site closed to the public and machinery at the site. The garage will make way for a 27-story, 340-foot-tall tower, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by Southern Land Company, with Hunter Roberts Construction Group as the general contractor. The three companies are also behind The Laurel Rittenhouse Square, which is rising a few blocks to to the west. Hunter Roberts Construction Group is the general contractor. The building will feature 298 residential units, 19,600 square feet of restaurant space, 5,200 square feet of retail, and 67 underground parking spaces.

Riverwalk south and north in the Philadelphia skyline from a garage looking east. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Riverwalk South Tower Receives Cladding in Center City West

8:00 am on April 8, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The tower at Riverwalk South at 60 North 23rd Street is approaching its full height of 362 feet, while installation of the glass and metal cladding has commenced. Designed by Gensler and developed by PMC Property Group, the Riverwalk complex will bring 711 new residential units to the neighborhood, with the south tower holding 380 apartments. The south tower now rises 21 stories above ground, with just 11 floors left to the roof, as concrete work has been progressing faster as the weather gets warmer. Center City West will see a great skyline boost once the 32-story concrete structure rises to its pinnacle.

The Laurel Rittenhouse. Credit: Southern Land Company

The Laurel Rittenhouse Square Rises to the 27th Floor in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on April 7, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The 599-foot-tall Laurel Rittenhouse Square skyscraper at 1911 Walnut Street at Rittenhouse Square in Center City has hit another major milestone as the concrete structure has risen above the 27th floor, which will feature amenity space and a pool. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed by the Southern Land Company, the future 48-story tower, which rises just to the northwest of Rittenhouse Square Park, is now passing the plateau of buildings that surround the seven-acre green space. The project will include 160 rental apartments and 85 luxury condominiums as well as retail.

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