Center City

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.

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

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

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.

418 Spring Garden Street. Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

High-Rise Development At 418 Spring Garden Street in Northern Liberties Goes to Civic Design Review

8:00 am on July 12, 2021 By Colin LeStourgeon

The team behind the 329-unit high-rise development proposed at 418 Spring Garden Street in Northern Liberties has submitted a documentation package to the Civic Design Review. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the tower will rise 12 stories tall and will feature commercial space on the ground floor and 87 parking spaces.

2400 Market Street (left). Photo by Thomas Koloski

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

7:00 am on July 12, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

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.

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

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

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

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.

Philadelphia 1905 and 2020 south elevation. Photo by Thomas Koloski

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

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

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.

Rendering of 412 North 2nd Street. Credit: Morris Adjmi Architects.

412 North 2nd Street in Northern Liberties Goes to Civic Design Review

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

A number of significant mid- and high-rise buildings are currently proposed in the sparsely developed zone in southern Northern Liberties, just north of Old City. One of these proposals is 412 North 2nd Street, which was presented in great detail in a recent Civic Design Review submission. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the tower will rise 244 feet and 23 stories high, easily making it one of the tallest buildings in the area. There will be 397 residential units included in the tower, 20,431 square feet of retail space, and 105 parking spaces.

Riverwalk, looking southeast. Credit: PMC Property Group

Exterior Nearly Complete at Riverwalk North in Center City West

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

Facade work nears completion at Riverwalk North, which is part of the Riverwalk complex at 60 North 23rd Street in Center City West. The development consist of two skyscrapers situated upon retail podiums. The project will feature a total of 711 residential units, and the north tower will have 331 units with the south tower featuring 380 units. Gensler, the architecture firm behind the design of the complex, has also designed a number of other projects in the area, including 3151 Market Street. Similarly, developer PMC Property Group is also developing several properties in the neighborhood.

113-121 South 19th Street looking north. Models and image by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Presents Updated Massing Renderings for 113-121 South 19th Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

8:00 am on July 4, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY recently announced the filing of new permits for 113-121 South 19th Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City, which appear to give a height bump for the structure. Designed by DAS Architecture and Planning, the 215-unit building is now planned to rise 57 stories, meaning that its height may reach over 600 feet. The slender tower is an unusual proposal for the city due to its smaller-than-average floor plates. The project is developed by Pearl Properties, which has also built The Harper, a high-rise residential building that opened in 2019 a block away. Today we present exclusive massing renderings that show the potential effect the building may have on the skyline.

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