Rendering of 1201 Normandy Place. Credit: Google.

Renderings Revealed for Life Sciences Building at 1201 Normandy Place in the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia

Renderings have been revealed for a life sciences laboratory building at 1201 Normandy Place in the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Designed by DIGSAU and developed by Ensemble Investments and Mosaic Development, the building will rise four stories tall, with a mechanical penthouse on top, and will feature 127,259 square feet of lab space. The ground floor will also hold 2,990 square feet of retail. An off-site garage will hold 58 parking spaces.

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Commerce Square from Spring Garden Street Bridge. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Looking Back at the Construction of One Commerce Square at 2005 Market Street in Center City

In 1984, the unwritten Gentleman’s Agreement that forbade building above the 548-foot-high statue of William Penn atop City Hall was about to be eliminated when, in April, developer Willard Rouse proposed a skyscraper development that eventually became Liberty Place. The proposal apparently influenced more developers and architects to build towers above the former height limit. The Commerce Square twin towers were revealed at 2005 Market Street in Center City at the end of the year. Designed by I.M. Pei and Partners and developed by IBM and Maguire/Thomas Partners, the 41-story towers were not built simultaneously, as One Commerce Square was the first building finished in the complex.

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12+Sansom at 123-27 South 12th Street. Rendering credit: Studios Architecture

Garage Mostly Demolished at 12 + Sansom Street Site at 123 South 12th Street in Market East, Center City

A massive parking garage that took up nearly an entire block is mostly demolished at 123 South 12th Street in Market East, Center City. The large residential building, dubbed 12 + Sansom, will make a positive impact on the area with its addition of 412 residential units. Designed by Studios Architecture and Bower Lewis Thower Architects and developed by Greystar Real Estate Partners, the building will stand 265 feet and 20 stories tall, a significant height for the neighborhood, though more residential towers are on their way to join the area.

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5007 Pentridge Street prior to demolition. Looking northwest. Credit: Google

Permits Issued for Eight-Unit Building at 5007 Pentridge Street in Cedar Park, West Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of an eight-unit multi-family building at 5007 Pentridge Street in Cedar ParkWest Philadelphia. The new building will rise three stories tall and will include a basement. Rich Villa is the design professional for the project, with Baltimore Select Properties LLC listed as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $850,000.

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3616 Haverford Avenue. Looking southeast. Credit: Google Maps

Permits Issued for Mixed-Use Building at 3616 Haverford Avenue in Mantua, West Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of a three-story, mixed-use building at 3616 Haverford Avenue in Mantua, West Philadelphia. The structure will rise from a vacant lot located on the south side of the block between North 36th and North 37th streets. The building will span a 1,249-square-foot footprint and contain 4,996 square feet of interior space, which will be divided between three residential units and a ground-floor commercial space. The planned roof deck promises to offer dramatic skyline views of nearby University City and Center City. Permits list Lamont L. Heller as the owner and Tommy’s Plumbing Services LLC as the contractor. Construction costs are specified at $500,000.

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