Skyline

YIMBY Presents Massing Animations of The Philadelphia Skyline Growth from 1985 to 1990

8:00 am on July 30, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

In recent months, YIMBY shared multiple publications covering the historical status of the Philadelphia skyline. Though our massing renderings have gone all the way back to when City Hall stood alone in the skyline, the modern skyline largely came into being around 30 years ago, when developers finally dared to pass its 548-foot-high William Penn Statue. Philadelphia YIMBY presents our custom animation of the Philadelphia skyline rising between the years 1985 and 1990, when Center City received some of its most iconic skyscrapers.

Looking Back at the First Philadelphia YIMBY Photo Reports

7:30 am on July 29, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Since August 3, 2020, Philadelphia YIMBY has been publishing content covering development in Philadelphia and the greater region, expanding from the original New York YIMBY site to track content in Chicago, Florida, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Today we look back to a year ago when our first photo report was posted on the site.

Philadelphia skyline 1905 and 1987 south elevation. Photo by Thomas Koloski

City Hall versus One Liberty Place: Philadelphia YIMBY Compares Massing Renderings of the 1905 and the 1987 Skyline

7:30 am on July 22, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The 20th Century was a key period for development in Philadelphia, with numerous remarkable structures built in the 100-year time period. At the very start of the century, City Hall was finishing construction in the heart of the city, with the William Penn Statue was topped on the structure six years beforehand. The 548-foot masonry structure was completed in 1901. Flashing forward to 1987, an even more massive monolith was finishing construction: One Liberty Place in Center City, which stands 945 feet tall. Philadelphia YIMBY compares the time periods when the two giants dominated the skyline fresh upon completion.

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.

Philadelphia 2020 and future south elevation. Models and image by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Compares Massing Renderings of the 2020 and the 2025 Skyline

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

The Philadelphia skyline has generally maintained its aesthetically appealing, iconic look at least since its major outward and upward expansion in the 1980s. High-rise buildings stack up gradually to the tallest skyscraper in the city, the Comcast Technology Center, which, at 1,121 feet tall, is Philadelphia’s first supertall. A number of other large skyscrapers also rose during the recent construction boom. In the next four years and beyond, Center City and the surrounding neighborhoods will gain yet more tall high-rise buildings. In this feature, Philadelphia YIMBY compares the 2020 skyline to how it will likely look in 2025.

Philadelphia skyline 1969. Photo and edit by Thomas Koloski

YIMBY Presents Mockup Time Lapse of the Philadelphia Skyline from 1901 to 2020

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

YIMBY has presented extensive coverage on the development of the Philadelphia skyline over the decades. In its early years, church steeples, factory chimneys, and shot towers dominated the skyline, rising above numerous low-rise buildings. Office towers began to rise in the early twentieth century, as businesses flocked to Center City, and proliferated more rapidly in the following decades, particularly in the past 40 years. Today we present an animated rendering of the skyline, showing how the mass of skyscrapers had risen from 1901 to 2020. Each frame shows the towers under their current construction status for the year depicted.

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.

Wawa Welcome America fireworks and the Philadelphia skyline from New Jersey. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Fireworks In The Decorated Skyline In Center City

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

Each year, the United States celebrates its birthday on July 4th, with evening fireworks being the highlight of the day. In Philadelphia, which was the nation’s capital between 1790 and 1800, a concert was held big name celebrities by the the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and fireworks, sponsored in large part by Wawa, launched as high as the Center City skyscrapers. The event was a tribute to America’s 245th birthday and the skyline was also lit up in the nations colors.

Philadelphia skyline from the I-95 2019. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the Rising Philadelphia Skyline from the I-95 South Over the Past Few Years

7:30 am on July 5, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

Over the past few years, a number of high-rises have ascended into the Philadelphia skyline. A number of developments are still under construction and have reached a point where they are already noticeable from many vantage points. These developments include the W/Element Hotel, Arthaus, and The Laurel Rittenhouse Square, with the latter two having cranes towering over the street. Today, Philly YIMBY tracks the rise of the skyline from Interstate 95, one of the busiest highways in the country.

Philadelphia YIMBY Compares Massing Renderings Of The 1905 And The 2020 Skyline

7:30 am on June 22, 2021 By Thomas Koloski

The Philadelphia skyline itself had started in the heart of the city, with the Christ Church in Old City standing as the tallest structure in the city during the Revolutionary era. Though some tall structures have risen at an early date, such as the 143 foot tall Sparks Shot Tower at 129-131 Carpenter Street, which was in operation from 1808 to 1903, the skyline has dramatically transformed in the 1900s. Today Philadelphia YIMBY compares the skylines of 1905 and 2020 via massing renderings.

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