Skyline

Observing the 1987 Philadelphia Skyline via Vintage Photographs

7:30 am on October 12, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Since 1987, the Philadelphia skyline has expanded both horizontally and vertically, as the city has received a new tallest skyscraper along with multiple towers rising higher than 500 feet. However, over 30 years ago, the skyline was already suggesting what was coming in the future, as skyscrapers were finally rising above the 548-foot mark set by City Hall in Center City. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY will look back at the skyline by observing photographs from 1987.

YIMBY Observes The Philadelphia Skyline From The Commodore Barry Bridge

7:30 am on October 4, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Many of the iconic points for observing the Philadelphia skyline are located in the city, though several are situated in New Jersey across the Delaware River and on the multiple bridges that connect New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One of these is the Commodore Barry Bridge, which was completed in 1974. Today, Philadelphia YIMBY observes the rising Philadelphia skyline from the bridge.

Philadelphia 1905 and 2020 south elevation. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back At The Creation Of The Philadelphia Massing

7:30 am on September 26, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

For over a year, Philadelphia YIMBY has been providing extensive publications and visuals depicting new developments planned for the future as well as notable towers that have risen in the past. We have offered images from drawn schematics, custom-made renderings, and skyline massings to give the public a clear look at the structures featured. Any time new high-rise buildings have been revealed or design changes were made, YIMBY reports on the changes with three-dimensional skyline views from various directions. In this feature, we look back at the creation of the 3D skyline massings that we continue to provide to this day.

Philadelphia 1945 aerial looking east. Models and image by Thomas Koloski

Observing the “Chinese Wall” Rail Viaduct on the 1945 Cityscape

7:30 am on September 25, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In the late 1800s, the city of Philadelphia made a bold move that greatly transformed and influenced both mass transit and the cityscape when they allowed Pennsylvania Railroad to construct a massive rail viaduct in Center City. One of the largest transportation projects in the city, dubbed to citizens as the “Chinese Wall” due to its appearance and presence, had a dramatic effect on the city’s planning for years to come. Designed by the Wilson Brothers, the rail line stood next to Broad Street Station, which sat on the current site of Dilworth Park, and stretched out all the way to West Philadelphia. The structure saw busy rail service for decades, yet it ultimately met its fate in 1953 after it was demolished to make way for future development. Today YIMBY presents an exclusive massing mock-up of how the structure appeared on the cityscape in 1945.

Philadelphia skyline from the Walt Whitman Bridge September 2021. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Observes the Arthaus, The Laurel Rittenhouse, and the Rising Philadelphia Skyline from the Walt Whitman Bridge

7:30 am on September 21, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

A few months ago, during the beginning of spring, Philadelphia YIMBY published a feature that looked at major developments in Center City from the Walt Whitman Bridge. This 378-foot-tall, green-painted suspension bridge was completed in 1957, and has since transported millions of people between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The bridge span rises 153 feet above the Delaware River, and offers a fantastic view of the skyline to the northwest. The western side connects to the sports complex in South Philadelphia, while the east side joins Gloucester City, NJ. In this new feature, Philadelphia YIMBY presents an updated look at several major developments in the skyline as seen from the bridge.

The Laurel Rittenhouse in the skyline from South Street Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the Philadelphia Skyline from South Street Bridge

7:30 am on September 12, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia offers a great number of that showcase the growing skyline. Though photographers always seek a new perspective of the skyline, the time-tested, iconic spots are still available to capture for the sake of the beauty in frame that has been captured for multiple years. On the list, the most iconic spots include the walkways of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the view from Spring Garden Street Bridge, and lastly the South Street Bridge view. Today, we observe the skyline from the South Street Bridge, which puts multiple new developments in the spotlight.

Center City from South Philadelphia 2020 and 2021. Photos by Thomas Koloski

Comparing the 2020 And 2021 Skyline as Seen from South Philadelphia

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

Over the past year, Philadelphia YIMBY has showcased the skyline on a constant basis, which has seen nearly a decade of constant construction. A number of projects have spawned all around the city, producing massive growth. Center City of course receives the most developments, as it is the busiest neighborhood. Other nearby neighborhoods are also joining in on the growth, such as University City. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY compares sections of the Philadelphia skyline via photographs taken this and last year.

Philadelphia skyline from the Girard Point Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Observes the Rising Philadelphia Skyline from the Girard Point Bridge

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

Philadelphia YIMBY has been covering the rise of the Philadelphia skyline over a year now. Today we observe the skyline from the Girard Point Bridge, which connects South Philadelphia with Southwest Philadelphia. The bridge had started construction in 1968 and was completed in 1973, just after the completion of One Meridian Plaza and while Centre Square was on the rise. The bridge, which is a double-decker cantilevered truss structure, was repainted in 2011, as it was previously coated in a fading green color. The bridge runs over the mouth of the Schuylkill River, just to the west of the Navy Yard.

Philadelphia skyline with unbuilt proposals looking northeast. Image and models by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Presents Updated Massings Of The Unbuilt Philadelphia Skyline

8:00 am on August 10, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In March, YIMBY shared exclusive renderings of the Philadelphia skyline featuring several unbuilt skyscrapers that would have made the city appear quite different from its current look. The conceptual massing shows the possibilities that never happened, though they remain archived by the original architects and now also by our publications. Numerous projects have been canceled in the city over the years, including the American Commerce Center, a tower once proposed in Center City that would have stood taller than the Comcast Technology Center. Today we present updated massing renderings of the Philadelphia skyline with many projects that remain unbuilt.

Philadelphia skyline 2017 from New Jersey. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back At Developments Under Construction In 2017

7:30 am on August 8, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia has had certain key years when skyscraper construction saw a notable surge, when many developments were underway at the same time. For instance, much of the current Center City skyline took form in and just after 1987. Another key year for construction took place in 2017, when various high-rise projects spanned multiple neighborhoods. Most of these developments stood under 500 feet, with some barely noticeable from afar, yet others added significant bulk to the skyline. The tallest skyscraper under construction was the Comcast Technology Center, the city’s first supertall tower and still the city’s tallest building. In this publication Philadelphia YIMBY looks back to when this collection of developments was underway four years ago.

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