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Philly Skyscaper watch

 

Tallest buildings in Philadelphia are facing many new challengers under construction & on the drawing boards

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Philadelphia's skyline is changing

 

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Some of the buildings are stunning and truly world class

 

Top 10 Tallest buildings

This list ranks completed and topped out skyscrapers in Philadelphia that stand at least 400 feet (120 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. The only demolished building that would have ranked on this list was the 492-foot (150 m) One Meridian Plaza, razed in 1999.

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Rank Name Image----- Height ft (m) Floors : Year Address---------- : Notes

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1 Comcast Technology Ctr 1,121 (341) 60 : 2017 1800 Arch Street / Construction broke ground July 2014. Scheduled to open in 2017.

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2 Comcast Center ------------- 975 (297) 58 : 2008 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd / was Tallest building in Pennsylvania; #15-tallest in U.S., #98 in the world;

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3 One Liberty Place ---------- 945 (288) 61 : 1987 1650 Market Street. / #20 in the country, #112th-tallest in the world;

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4 Two Liberty Place ---------- 848 (258) 58 : 1990 1601 Chestnut Street / 35th-tallest building in the country, tallest building completed in Philadelphia in the 1990s

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5 BNY Mellon Center --------- 792 (241) 54 : 1990 1735 Market Street / 47th-tallest building in the country; also known as Nine Penn Center

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6 Three Logan Square ------- 739 (225) 55 : 1991 1717 Arch Street / 89th-tallest building in the U.S.; formerly known as Bell Atlantic Tower and Verizon Tower

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7 FMC Tower @ Cira Ctr South 736 (224) 49 : 2016 2929 Walnut Street / The tallest building in Philadelphia outside Center City.

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8 G. Fred DiBona Jr. Building -- 625 (191) 45 : 1990 1901 Market Street / Formerly known as the Blue Cross-Blue Shield Tower and the IBX Tower

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9 One Commerce Square ------- 565 (172) 41 : 1992 2005 West Market Street /

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10 Two Commerce Square ------ 565 (172) 41 : 1987 2001 West Market Street /

==

> More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia

 

One and Two Liberty Place - and the "gentlemen's agreement" limiting building height:

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there was a "gentlemen's agreement" not to build any structure in Center City higher than the statue of William Penn on top of Philadelphia City Hall. The tradition lasted until the 1980s when developer Willard G. Rouse III of Rouse & Associates announced plans to build an office building complex that included two towers taller than City Hall. Prior to any development plans, Rouse wanted to acquire prime real estate in Philadelphia and he eyed a block in Center City occupied by parking lots and several small buildings. The Oliver Tyrone Pulver Corp. also eyed the land for development and the company and Rouse both vied for the block of land by buying small lots throughout the site. Neither developer was able to acquire enough contiguous space to build a large office building, so after a lawsuit and failed negotiations, the two developers agreed to an organized bidding war for each other's properties. Under the rules agreed upon, the highest bidder would get the option to buy the other's property. Rouse won the auction in 1983 for an undisclosed amount.Originally, Rouse envisioned a $US150 million 38-story skyscraper but on April 5, 1984 Rouse officially announced his plans to build a complex that would include two office towers, one 65 stories the other 55 stories, a hotel, and retail space. Rumors and local lore speculate Rouse spent so much money buying the land that he had to build something that justified the expense

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> More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Place

 

 

LINKS:

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> EMPORIS list of Philadelphia's Tallest : https://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101032/philadelphia-pa-usa

> Philly’s 13 tallest buildings by 2020, mapped : https://philly.curbed.com/maps/philadelphia-tallest-buildings

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Tallest in the world, 2016

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Comcast Center (#2) was #6 in the World, back in 2008

 

Here's Philly's Top 10 Tallest Buildings in early 2014

 

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Philly's tallest buildings, compared - the New Building will be called Comcast Technology Tower

 

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US Comparison

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> http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-24/size-matters-visualizing-tallest-building-each-state

Comcast Technology Tower raises Philly to #3 city in the US

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Tallest approved or proposed - for Philadelphia

This lists buildings that have been approved or are proposed for construction in Philadelphia and are planned to rise at least 500 feet (152 m). A floor count of 40 stories is used as the cutoff for buildings whose heights have not yet been released by their developers.

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Name-------------- - Where---------- Height ft (m) Floors / Year* (est.) Status Notes

2901 Arch Street - Transit Terminal Tower (30th St. Station District)

1,200 (365) 85 -- Proposed, If approved and built will be the tallest in the city.

3101 Market - Schuylkill Yards 1,095 (333) 70 -- Proposed If approved and built will be the second tallest in the city.

3125 JFK Blvd - Schuylkill Yards 725 (221) 48 Proposed

3001 JFK Blvd - Cira II (30th St) 705 (214) 45 Proposed

2928 Race Street (30th Street Dist) 670 (204) 45 Proposed

3100 Cherry St - (30th Street Dist) 605 (184) 40 Proposed

2929 Race St - (30th Street Dist) 590 (180) 40 Proposed

3000 Baring St - (30th Street Dist) 570 (174) 38 Proposed

SLS Lux Hotel and Residences 566 (172) 45 / 2019 Approved

1911 Walnut - 565 (172) 47 / 2019 Proposed

1301 Market - 547 (167) 38 / 2020 Proposed

3001 Chestnut - Schuylkill Yards 515 (156) 42 Proposed

Cathedral Twr I - 508 (154) 44 / 2020 Proposed

2100 Market - 500 (153) 39 / 2020 Proposed

==============

> More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Philadelphia

 

WHY so many skyscrapers proposed for Philadelphia?

My guess: Because JOBS and office demand is growing, and land is still relatively cheap

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VIEWING SPOTS

 

On Liberty Place Observation deck (#3 highest)

Website: PhillyFromTheTop.com

One-Liberty-Observation-Deck-Screens.jpg

 

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> http://uncoveringpa.com/one-liberty-observation-deck-philadelphia

 

VIEW from TOP of Comcast Center (2010) : #2 highest

Day 205 of Firsts: To the Roof of the Comcast Building! Whoa Baby!

 

Because of the way it is constructed, the views from inside Comcast Technology Center (#1) are going to be stunning

Design of Comcast Innovation and Technology Center

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Several Residential skyscrapers have been built

=

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10 Rittenhouse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Waterfront Square

 

A Tour of the Residences at Two Liberty Place

 

TOP PHILADELPHIA CONDOS (in City Center)

 

1. Residences at The Ritz- : 1414 South Penn Sq., 2008-9
2. 10 Rittenhouse ---------- : 130 South 18th Street, 2009
3. Western Union ----------- : 1101-11 Locust Street, 2007-9, (100 units)

4. The Murano -------------- : 2101 Market Street, 2008, (42 stories)
5. 410 at Society Hill ------- : 410 S Front St, 2015-16 (55 units)
6. Resid. at Two Liberty Pl. : 50 South 16th Street ???
7. Waterfront Square ------ : 901 North Penn Street 2006 (780 units, 5 towers)
8. Hopkinson House ------- : 604 S. Washington Sq 1963-73
9. Independence Place---- : 233-241 South 6th St 1980-85
10. The Dorchester --------- : 224-30 W.Rittenhouse Sq 1970-71

11. Parc Rittenhouse-------- : 225 South 18th Street 1926
12. Packard Grande--------- : 111 South 15th Street Vintage rebuilt?
13. Citiview -------------------- : 2001 Hamilton Avenue ???
14. Academy House --------- : 1420 Locust Street 1977 (37 fl. 570 units)

15. The Barclay -------------- : 237 South 18th Street 1910
16. Res@ RittenhouseHotel : 210 West Rittenhouse Sq ???
17. The Ellington ------------- : 1500 Chestnut Street 1922-27, renovated
===

> CityCenterTeam : http://www.centercityteam.com/tag/center-city-philadelphia/page/3/

> Luxury focus of another agent:

Allan Domb and his highly reputable real estate brokerage firm have been known throughout the United States as key contributors to Center City Philadelphia’s luxury condominium market. Today, Allan continues to specialize in Center City luxury condominium sales in buildings such as: 10 Rittenhouse, 1706 Rittenhouse, 1820 Rittenhouse, 1830 Rittenhouse, 1900 Rittenhouse, 220 West Rittenhouse Square, Academy House, The Bank Building, The Barclay, The Dorchester, Hopkinson House, Independence Place, The Lanesborough, The Lippincott, The Murano, Parc Rittenhouse, The Philadelphian, Pier 3, Pier 5, The Rittenhouse, Society Hill Towers, Symphony House, Wanamaker House and The Warwick Condominiums.

 

(Allan Domb’s Key to a Successful Investment Portfolio):

Over the years, many people have decided to add real estate to their investment portfolios, with Center City condominiums being their investment of choice. Many bought anywhere from 10 to 40 investment condominiums in Center City. As a result of their performance, numerous buyers have shifted their investment focus from mutual funds and the stock market to Center City condominiums in core neighborhoods.

In fact, one investor recently did an analysis and determined that the $350,000 they invested ten years ago in condominiums is worth about $1,000,000 today and produces an annual income of $60,000. They also did analysis that showed if they had invested the same $350,000 in the stock market over the past ten years it would be worth approximately $450,000 today with no real annual cash flow. Let me say that again…the condos produced $550,000 of equity greater than their stock option and produced the annual cash flow of $60,000!

==

> see: http://allandomb.com/invest-in-real-estate/

 

MAP : larger version

philadelphia-center-city-hotels-and-sigh

==

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Philadelphia had some bad news with one of its skyscrapers

 

One Meridian Plaza Fire, Philadelphia - February 23, 1991

 

/ 2 /

Philadelphia Disaster: One of The City's Worst Fires Ever (Meridian Building 1991)

 

One Meridian Plaza was a 38-story high-rise office building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

The 492 feet (150 m) tower was designed by Vincent Kling & Associates and completed in 1972. The building was demolished in 1999, as a result of damage of a fire that began on February 23, 1991.

 

The fire began on the 22nd floor, after linseed oil–soaked rags ignited a blaze that raged out of control for hours.

. . .

On February 23, 1991, at about 8:23 PM, a fire began on the 22nd floor of the building. It was a Saturday night and there were only three people in the building at the time, an engineer and two security guards.[1] Workers had been refinishing woodwork in a vacant office earlier in the day and workers left a pile of rags soaked in linseed oil on the floor. The linseed oil oxidized and generated enough heat to ignite the rags, which then set fire to other solvents nearby.[12] Smoke detectors did not cover the entire floor and by the time the fire alarm went off the fire was already well established.

. . .

Philadelphia firefighters fought the blaze, but struggled due to a lack of power in the skyscraper and insufficient water pressure from the building's standpipes. Three firefighters died in the twelve-alarm fire after becoming disoriented by heavy smoke. Firefighting efforts inside One Meridian Plaza eventually were abandoned, due to fears the structure would collapse. The fire was only brought under control once it reached the 30th floor, which was one of the few floors that had automatic sprinklers installed. Ten sprinklers held back the fire until it started burning itself out and was finally brought under control almost a full day after it started. The blaze seriously damaged the building, destroying eight floors and damaging neighboring buildings.

 

For eight years after the fire, One Meridian Plaza sat vacant and damaged—in the center of Philadelphia's business district. The building was caught in litigation between the owners and the insurance company over how much the insurers would pay the owners and how repairs or demolition would proceed. Businesses near the empty high-rise closed or moved and the city sued the owners to do something with the building. After lawsuits were settled, the building was declared a total loss and began to be dismantled in 1998. At the time of its demolition in 1999, One Meridian Plaza was the third-tallest destroyed building in the world.

. . .

When One Meridian Plaza was built Philadelphia was enforcing a building code from 1949 that made no distinction between high-rises and other buildings. In 1984 Philadelphia adopted new codes that required automatic sprinkler systems in all new buildings. At the time of construction, sprinklers were only built on the service levels below ground. In 1988 plans were put in place to have automatic sprinklers placed throughout the building by November 1993. By 1991 four floors were completely protected by sprinklers and in part on three other floors. The sprinklers had been installed during floor renovations at the request of tenants and the building's owners had plans to install more as other floors were renovated

. . .

Deconstruction

In March 1997 E/R Partners settled with Aetna, receiving around $300 million. After the legal issues were settled E/R Partners announced the building would be dismantled. With the announcement of the demolition the city dropped its lawsuit against the owners. Unable to implode the building because of the building density of the area, E/R Partners began an eighteen-month, $23 million process to dismantle the building. Early in the process, which began in 1998, the owners hoped someone would buy the property as is or with the damaged portion of the structure removed, but that hope was soon abandoned. The process was finished in 1999.[8] At the time of the demolition it was the third tallest habitable building ever razed and is currently the seventh, ranking after the World Trade Center's twin towers, the Singer Building, and the original Seven World Trade Center in New York, the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, and 130 Liberty Street in New York

. . .

Replacement

The site of One Meridian Plaza was bought by the Arden Group in 2000. The site was converted into a parking lot as construction on a new building was held up in a zoning feud with the neighboring site, 1441 Chestnut Street. 1441 Chestnut Street was the site of the Morris Building and other smaller buildings that sat behind One Meridian Plaza. The feud between Arden Group's chief executive Craig Spencer and 1441 Chestnut Street developer Tim Mahoney began in 2003. Spencer and Mahoney settled their dispute in March 2006 and construction on One Meridian's 48-story replacement, the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton began in May. The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton opened in January 2009.[26] A memorial was unveiled on October 21, 2009 at the skyscraper honoring the three firefighters who died in the fire.

===

> wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Meridian_Plaza

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CTC / Comcast Technology Center is / will be a World class wonder

 

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Because of the way it is constructed, the views from inside Comcast Technology Center (#1) are going to be stunning

 

 

Not only the Views, but whole building seems like a stunning design from top-class architects, Foster + Partners

 

When under construction :

A Taste Of The High Life

Published on Mar 10, 2016

Vittoria Woodill shows us what it takes to build the new Comcast Building.

comment:

Man that guy has guts doing that job. She is pretty brave herself.
The most dangerous job:
John Teel Local 401

More views:

Atop the Comcast Technology Center

 

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===== =====

The Comcast Technology Center

.... is a building under construction in Philadelphia. The 60-floor building, with a height of 1,121 feet (342 m), will be the ninth-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere (the eight taller ones are all in the United States), and the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere outside of Manhattan and Chicago (and therefore the tallest building in Pennsylvania). It is adjacent to the Comcast Center, the headquarters of Comcast Corporation.

Construction began in summer 2014 and is expected to be completed in 2018. (Now, late 2017 completion is expected.)

 

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The architect is Lord Norman Foster, with interior design by Gensler.

The L.F. Driscoll Company is the construction contractor. Approximately 1.7 million rentable square feet, including 1.33 million rentable square feet of office space, 230,112 square feet of hotel space, and 2,682 rentable square feet of retail space will be created when the tower is completed.

The view from the top will be more than 40 miles (60 kilometers) in clear weather.
The building will consist primarily of office space and the new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, which was formerly nearby. It will also include television studios, a retail mall, a parking garage, and a top-floor restaurant. The entire project contains over 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2). The property will be co-owned by Comcast and Liberty Property Trust, and has an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.
Comcast's NBC station WCAU (channel 10), along with Telemundo's WWSI (channel 62) have announced plans to move from Bala Cynwyd to occupy the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth floors of the building with at least three control rooms and three studios, all located on the thirteenth floor, as well as office space
==

> wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_Technology_Center

===== =====

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THE OWNERS of the $1.2 billion CTC, how will their shares fare?

 

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) ... all data : 10-yr : 5-yr : 2-yr : 6-mo : Last: $39.50, PER:21.0: Y: 1.59%: Mkt.Cap: $187.4 Bn

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Liberty Property Trust ( NYSE: LRY ) ......... all data : 10-yr : 5-yr : 2-yr : 6-mo : Last: $41.72, PER: 17.9, Y: 3.84%: Mkt.Cap: $6.29Bn

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Philadelphia | Comcast Innovation and Technology Center | 342m | 59s | Comcast | Foster + Partners

Discussion in 'Buildings' started by jahvon09, Jan 16, 2014.

jahvon09 Active Member Joined: Nov 6, 2013 Messages: 147

Comcast to Expand Philadelphia Presence with Comcast Innovation and Technology Center Designed by Lord Norman Foster and developed by Liberty Property Trust to achieve LEED Platinum Certification, the 59-story tower will include a Four Seasons Hotel. Thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity will be created in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania commonwealth.

PHILADELPHIA, PA
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LPT) announced today they will jointly develop the "Comcast Innovation and Technology Center" on the 1800 block of Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia. The proposed $1.2 billion 59-story, 1,121-foot tower will neighbor Comcast Center, Comcast Corporation’s global headquarters, and become a dedicated home for the company’s growing workforce of technologists, engineers, and software architects. The facility will also create a media center in the heart of the City by becoming home to the operations of local broadcast television stations NBC 10/WCAU and Telemundo 62/WWSI and offer space for local technology startups.

 

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CITC Fact Sheet
Designed by world-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the glass and stainless steel tower will complement Comcast Center as a new energetic dimension to Center City. The 1.517 million rentable square foot project will include a new Four Seasons hotel and a soaring, block-long lobby with a glass-enclosed indoor plaza accompaniment to Comcast Center’s existing, dynamic outdoor plaza. The lobby will feature a restaurant and a new concourse will provide direct connections with SEPTA’s Suburban Station, enhancing accessibility and providing new options for commuters. The $1.2 billion mixed-use tower is expected to be the tallest building in the United States outside of New York and Chicago and will be the largest private development project in the history of Pennsylvania.

==

> http://skyrisecities.com/forum/threads/philadelphia-comcast-innovation-and-technology-center-342m-59s-comcast-foster-partners.23529/

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  • 1 month later...

Changing "the Chessboard"

 

Evolution of the Downtown Philadelphia Skyline

Published on 2 Aug 2017

The 100+ year evolution of the Philadelphia skyline, read more here: https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/p...

Head over to https://www.commercialcafe.com/ for all things commercial real estate

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  • 4 months later...

Mapping the 29 high-rises under construction in Philly right now

Back in May 2016 when we first published this map, there were 29 high-rises. By August, the grand total rose 32. By February 2017, it went back down to 26, followed by 30 in July. By the end of 2017, there were 27 high-rises under construction. Today, the total number is 29.

We should note that this map of projects only includes high-rises that are currently under construction or undergoing extensive renovations. In Philly, a high-rise means any building that is at least 75-feet tall. Or, in technical terms, has "an occupied floor located 75 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access."

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