Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers. Photo and edit by Thomas Koloski

Philadelphia YIMBY Presents Renderings of the Once-Proposed Twin Independence Blue Cross Towers

In February, Philly YIMBY published an examination of the Twin Independence Blue Cross Tower proposal that was planned in the mid-1980s. The Independence Blue Cross Tower were designed by WZMH Architects, who also designed the CN Tower in Toronto, Canda. The developer, The Linpro Company, intended to build two 45-story towers on the 1900 block of Market Street. Each would have stood 625 feet tall, located 1901 Market Street and 1919 Market Street in Center City. If built as a twin pair, they would have stood next to the 565-foot Commerce Square towers, another pair of twin high-rises.

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Rendering of 15000 Roosevelt Boulevard. Credit: NORR

Renderings Revealed for Byberry North Business Center at 15000 Roosevelt Boulevard in Somerton, Northeast Philadelphia

Renderings have been revealed for Byberry North Business Center, a large warehouse development proposed at 15000 Roosevelt Boulevard in Somerton, Northeast Philadelphia. The complex will include two warehouse structures with large surface lots and landscaping. The project will bring a combined 668,908 square feet of indoor space. Building 1 will host 338,208 square feet, with Building 2 containing 330,700 square feet. The adjacent parking lots will offer 559 parking spaces. Building 1 will have 51 truck loading dock spaces and 61 trailer storage spaces, while building two will have 45 truck loading dock spaces and 50 trailer storage spaces.

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The Lewis Tower from Arthaus. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look At The Lewis Tower At 1425 Locust Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

Philadelphia is home to a sizable collection of intricately designed skyscrapers that were built between 1920 and 1940, which still stand out on the cityscape despite being drastically shorter than the modern towers of Center City. The east side of the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood features many towers built within that time frame, including The Lewis Tower, now known as The Aria Condos at 1425 Locust Street. The structure rises 389 feet and 33 stories tall, just one block to the north of the 375-foot-tall tower known as The Drake. The skyscraper was designed by Edmund Gilchrist, and Gravell and Hall engineered the steel structure. The Art Deco building was completed in 1929.

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23 West Girard Avenue. Credit: JKRP Architects

Renderings Revealed for 107-Unit Development at 23 West Girard Avenue in Fishtown

A recent Civic Design Review has revealed new renderings are out for 23 West Girard Avenue, a mixed-use development proposed in Fishtown, Kensington. Upon completion, the building will rise six stories tall with 5,406 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The upper floors of the building will host 107 residential units, which will occupy the vast majority of the 104,160 square foot building. The building will also offer a 6,000 square foot roof deck which will likely offer sweeping skyline views. There will be 29 parking spaces included with three for electric vehicles and one as a car share spot. JKRP Architects designed the building.

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Philadelphia skyline lit up from South Philadelphia. Photo by Thomas Koloski

Observing the New Lighting Schemes in the Philadelphia Skyline

Last month, Philadelphia YIMBY reported on new lighting schemes that are decorating the nighttime skyline. Though it was already known that One Liberty Place at 1650 Market Street and the W/Element Hotel at 1441 Chestnut Street, both located in Center City, are having their lighting tested, both now feature together in the skyline, with new programming visible to the residents of the city. The lights on One Liberty Place, which used to be dimmer and had sections of the lighting noticeably lit a different color, the lights have now been fixed and brightened. The W/Element Hotel used to be a dark skyscraper in the night time skyline with just the aviation warning lights noticeable, but now the skyscraper is lit up nearly as much as the FMC Tower in University City.

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