Arthaus rendering. Photo and edit by Thomas Koloski

Arthaus Nears Top of Parapet in Washington Square West, Center City

The Arthaus condominium under construction at 311 South Broad Street in Center City is nearing the very top of the parapet, which will stand at at an impressive height of 542 feet. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by Dranoff Properties, the 45-story skyscraper features a bright and modern design. The tower will include 107 units and amenity and retail space on the first four floors, along with green roofs at the top of the podium and at the roof. The building’s design is perfect for the Philadelphia skyline as the tower keeps a blocky profile while changing form as it steps up to a square crown, with the metal cladding thickening around the edges as it opens up on the glass faces to have thinner metal run vertical up the tower with spaces dividing the rows.

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2909 Ridge Avenue. Looking northeast. Credit: Google

Permits Issued for Five-Unit Building at 2909 Ridge Avenue in Strawberry Mansion, North Philadelphia

A permit has been issued for the construction of a three-story mixed-use building at 2909 Ridge Avenue in Strawberry Mansion, North Philadelphia. The structure will replace a vacant lot on the northeast side of the block between North 29th Street and North 30th Street and will span a ground footprint of 1,959 square feet. The 5,877-square-foot building will include five residential units, a commercial space at the ground floor, two private roof decks, and full sprinkling. Permits list Philadelphia Limited Prop. as the owner, Plato Marinakos as the designer, and Baltimore Select Properties LLC as the contractor. Construction cost is estimated at $250,000.

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Permits Issued for 2765 East Country Club Road in Wynnefield Heights, West Philadelphia

Permits have been issued for a multi-family addition to 2765 East Country Club Road in Wynnefield Heights, West Philadelphia. The development will involve a single-story addition to the existing structure. In total, the project will deliver five residential units. The extension will add 1,061 square feet of space to the structure, making for a total of 5,780 square feet of space. Construction costs for the development are estimated at $180,000.

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The Drake. Photo via Murphy, Quigley Company

Taking a Look At The Drake at 1512 Spruce Street in Rittenhouse Square, Center City

While Philadelphia did not build massive art deco skyscrapers in the 1920s, there still were buildings that were constructed with fantastic designs in Center City such as The Drake at 1512 Spruce Street. The tower rises 33 floors above ground and stands at an impressive height of 375 feet. The tower was designed by Verus Shay and Howell Lewis Shay of the architectural firm Ritter and Shay, who have designed a building with such an incredible design with a wide profile when viewed from the east and west. The north and south profile is incredibly thin, with brickwork running up to the angled and curved tops of the Art Deco and Spanish Baroque design. The structure was constructed by Murphy, Quigley Company and was completed in 1929.

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Construction Progresses at Liberty Square in Olde Kensington

Construction has made significant progress at Liberty Square in Olde Kensington. Designed by HDO Architecture, the project will hold 201 residential units within three buildings. Two of the three buildings have reached completion, while the third along American Street is still progressing. 156 underground parking spaces will be included in the development, as well as a decorated plaza/courtyard in the center of the development. 10,000 square feet of retail space is also included in the project.

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