Your main man in the sky, Brad from phillyskyline.com, broke the STORY OF THE CENTURY in regards to Philadelphia architecture. A new proposal has been unveiled for 1800 Arch St. (currently a horrific slab of nothingness):
This is American Commerce Center.
The vitals: 26 story hotel, 473′ to the garden accessible to hotel guests. 3-to-6 stories of street-accessible retail along Arch Street with a public garden facing the dome of the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, and another garden on the sixth floor, between Arch and Cuthbert and overlooking the one below. 63 story office tower, 1,210′ to the lower portion of the roof, 1,500′ to the top of the spire. All parking is underground, including dedicated bicycle parking. LEED gold.
Mayor Michael Nutter, via his Press Secretary Doug Oliver, believes that “it would be a spectacular addition to Philadelphia’s skyline. Sustainability efforts and building green continue to be hallmarks of this Administration and the plans for this particular project are consistent with those goals.”
Simply spectacular. The nearby Comcast Center is going to be dwarfed by the new tower’s presence, and Liberty One and Two are going to simply look like child’s play.
Perhaps the most impressive thing involved with the American Commerce Center is that the developers (KPF) have already placed immeasurable importance on its interaction with the street, the people and the rest of the city. A plaza, a setback from the street, and concern for the pedestrian. And it looks like things are already in place to assuage any concerns about ‘destroying’ some sort of fake concern about ‘light’ or ‘views’. These problems abound in a place like Rittenhouse Square, but precedent exists for skyscrapers in this area, and they’re replacing a freaking parking lot. A parking lot.
Nothing but good news. Dare I say it folks, but this has me damn excited. Thanks for the breaking news Brad!
