Commerce Square in the Philadelphia skyline. Photo by Thomas Koloski

A Look at Commerce Square, Philadelphia’s Twin Towers

Philadelphia is home to many skyscrapers designed by well-known architects from around the world. Among these are the twin towers of Commerce Square, which were designed by the renowned firm of I.M. Pei & Partners. The 565-foot-tall One Commerce Square and Two Commerce Square towers are still prominent on the Philadelphia skyline to this day, and they take up an entire city block at 2001 Market Street and 2005 Market Street in Center City. Both of the 41-story structures are framed in steel, and each is topped with a decorative diamond on the east and west faces. Maguire Thomas Partners was the developer of the towers at the time of the completion of One Commerce Square in 1987 and five years when Two Commerce Square was completed, which was also the time when the developers decided to split their partnership.

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View of 6618-24 Ridge Avenue. Credit: Google.

Permits Issued for 44-unit Building at 6618-24 Ridge Avenue in Roxborough, Northwest Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of a 44-unit multi-family development at 6618-24 Ridge Avenue in RoxboroughNorthwest Philadelphia. Upon completion, the building will rise five stories tall. A roof deck will sit at the top of the structure, accessible through multiple pilot houses. The building will hold 48,615 square feet of interior space. Permits state that construction costs are estimated at $3 million.

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Rendering of 314 South 46th Street via Hightop Real Estate.

Construction Progresses at 314 South 46th Street in Garden Court, West Philadelphia

Construction is progressing rapidly at 314 South 46th Street, a 25-unit multi-family development in Garden CourtWest Philadelphia. The project involves the renovation of an existing historic church structure as well as the construction of a new addition. In total, the project will consist of 25 residential units. The church will be mostly preserved as it stands today, with no major changes made to the exterior. The new addition will provide a pleasant contrast to the design with gray brick and wood paneling.

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Live! Casino and Hotel. Photo by Thomas Koloski

An Overview of the Construction of the Live! Casino and Hotel in The Sports Complex District, South Philadelphia

Over the course of the past few years, the Live! Casino and Hotel rose to become a welcome addition to the nearby stadiums in the Sports Complex District in South Philadelphia. The structure, located at 900 Packer Avenue, just to the north of Citizens Bank Park, holds over 1.5 million square feet of space, more than the 1.4-million-square-foot Rivers Casino in North Philadelphia. Designed by Bower Lewis Thower Architects and developed by The Cordish Company and Greenwood Racing and Entertainment, the casino stands three stories tall, with the hotel rising 215 feet and 14 stories high.

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View of the 2200 Block of Cross Street. Credit: Google.

Permits Issued for Five Rowhouses at 2231-52 Cross Street in Point Breeze, South Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for the construction of multiple rowhouses in Point BreezeSouth Philadelphia. The project will total five homes at 2231 Cross Street, 2232 Cross Street, 2235 Cross Street, 2249 Cross Street, and 2252 Cross Street. Each structure will rise two stories tall so as to fit in with the rest of the block, and each will cost an estimated $102,500 to build.

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