PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread X

[TK2001]

Dont forget the Bank of China building in Chengdu. I've seen these on the internet for many years, definitely mimicking One Liberty. Wack that there's more copies of One Liberty than the Chrysler...which is basically what One LP is. And look behind the one in Iran...mini simplistic Mellon Bank Center?

[Mr Saturn64]

Originally Posted by TK2001

And here's some of the wacky designs. These drawings were captured at One Liberty Observation Deck. I won't be shocked if this is still up there

Man, I wish One Liberty Observation Deck would make a comeback. Didn't we hear something about that floor being sold a while back? That rings a bell but looking it up yielded no results. Maybe that could be back up and running for 2026.

Originally Posted by JohnIII

Came across something interesting regarding Liberty One; its intriguing. There are 2 websites that seem to regard above sea elevation; one being Elevation Finder; and when you put the address of 17th and Market in Philadelphia PA the different websites record different heights; 42.3 feet and the other 33 feet.

If Liberty One doesn't take into the account of above sea elevation then I guess its 1090 feet.

If Liberty One does take into the account an above sea elevation of 42 feet then I guess Liberty One's height is 1047 feet.

If Liberty One does take into the account an above sea elevation of 33 feet then I guess Liberty One's height is 1057 feet.

What is really interest is this; in either of these 2 circumstances a few things change as far as Philadelphia Skyscrapers are concerned.
(1) Philadelphia would have 3 skyscrapers over 1,000 feet which only 2 other cities in America have.
(2) If Liberty One is at either of these 3 listed heights; then the Comcast and Comcast Tech Center could be higher. for example if Liberty One is 1047' not counting above sea level; then Comcast is as well when its not listed to be that tall. Should they be corrected?

I find the height of 1090' to be amazing, wow that would be amazing. The website does say 1090' above the streets so it would seem that the built is 1090'; for the streets are already above sea level.

Hey if Liberty One is 1090' great, fine, cool, good skyscraper indeed.

I don't think there's a realistic way for it to actually be 1,090. That's a whole 145 feet higher than it offically is a 945, which would be significantly noticeable. Also, it would be noticeably taller than the Comcast Center, which it isn't, although it looks that way from the Sports Complex, that's because it's closer. I have no idea why that's listed as the height on the website. Taller than 945, perhaps.

[TK2001]

^
The 57th and 58th floors are to be leased together. Stated on the One Liberty Place website leasing page

https://onelibertyplace.com/availabilities.php

[R5Ryder]

Originally Posted by TK2001

Dont forget the Bank of China building in Chengdu. I've seen these on the internet for many years, definitely mimicking One Liberty. Wack that there's more copies of One Liberty than the Chrysler...which is basically what One LP is. And look behind the one in Iran...mini simplistic Mellon Bank Center?

I imagine it's cheaper to replicate 1LP than Chrysler due to materials and some of the intricacies in C's design? Also from an environmental perspective? Just a guess.

I still wish they could jack up 1LP or build a 3LP that'd be the city's tallest besides the monstrosities that are CC and CTC (at least from the North or South... the East and West of each looks fine.)

Was in NY last weekend looking at a lot of the under-construction buildings, and man am I jealous of the u/c Foster building that they got vs the one we got. A 270 Park, proportional with the demand (i.e. probably shorter) would look so much better than what we got.

EDIT: for those that are grasping at straws to make 1LP and CC "supertalls", 1LP's spire is "architectural" but that doesn't mean it can't be enhanced to get the extra 55 feet it needs... but it'd look totally disproportional and be so costly for no ROI. However, CC would just require 10-15 feet of framing added to the top since it's more of a shroud and nothing structural. Still insanely expensive for no ROI, but way easier to do. Hell - could probably send some guys up there with ladders and materials and do it from the inside (I'm not being serious there.)

[reparcsyks]

I was flamed for this before, but I don't see any more supertalls in Philly's future in our lifetimes. I would honestly love to be proved wrong, of course, but I can't think of one reason why any business in their right mind would build anything remotely close to the CITC specs in Philly in the next 50+ years.

The office job is dead and we don't have the tourism to support a supertall hotel/mixed-use complex.

I'm hoping for 1 or 2 more Laurels in my lifetime, but I think 300-500' will be the Philly sweetspot for future buildings.

Flame away...

[mja]

Originally Posted by reparcsyks

I was flamed for this before, but I don't see any more supertalls in Philly's future in our lifetimes. I would honestly love to be proved wrong, of course, but I can't think of one reason why any business in their right mind would build anything remotely close to the CITC specs in Philly in the next 50+ years.

The office job is dead and we don't have the tourism to support a supertall hotel/mixed-use complex.

I'm hoping for 1 or 2 more Laurels in my lifetime, but I think 300-500' will be the Philly sweetspot for future buildings.

Flame away...

50 years is a LONG time. 50 years ago the tallest building in Philly was City Hall, with nothing indicating that anything was going to break that barrier in the next 50 years. You may well end up being correct, but it's really tough to try to project something like that out a decade into the future, let along 5+ decades. Who can even tell what work looks like 25 years from now.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by reparcsyks

I was flamed for this before, but I don't see any more supertalls in Philly's future in our lifetimes. I would honestly love to be proved wrong, of course, but I can't think of one reason why any business in their right mind would build anything remotely close to the CITC specs in Philly in the next 50+ years.

The office job is dead and we don't have the tourism to support a supertall hotel/mixed-use complex.

I'm hoping for 1 or 2 more Laurels in my lifetime, but I think 300-500' will be the Philly sweetspot for future buildings.

Flame away...

1. Why bring it up again?
2. You can see 50 years in the future?
3. What satisfaction would you get if Philadelphia constructed another supertall? The city already has the tallest building outside of NYC & Chicago.

I get it, we like development and skyscrapers, but only NYC, Miami, and Austin have supertalls in their immediate future. I wish people would stop viewing a slowdown in skyscraper proposals as a Philly specific problem, because its not...

While on the topic, I would rather see the four proposed 500' towers built before one supertall. And I am confident Brandywine will deliver their ~500' tower on JFK within the next few years.

[reparcsyks]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

1. Why bring it up again?
2. You can see 50 years in the future?
3. What satisfaction would you get if Philadelphia constructed another supertall? The city already has the tallest building outside of NYC & Chicago.

I get it, we like development and skyscrapers, but only NYC, Miami, and Austin have supertalls in their immediate future. I wish people would stop viewing a slowdown in skyscraper proposals as a Philly specific problem, because its not...

While on the topic, I would rather see the four proposed 500' towers built before one supertall. And I am confident Brandywine will deliver their ~500' tower on JFK within the next few years.

I don't see it as a problem. You are misreading my tone - I don't mind. I would much rather see a 4-6 500 footers than one 1200'.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by reparcsyks

I was flamed for this before, but I don't see any more supertalls in Philly's future in our lifetimes. I would honestly love to be proved wrong, of course, but I can't think of one reason why any business in their right mind would build anything remotely close to the CITC specs in Philly in the next 50+ years.

The office job is dead and we don't have the tourism to support a supertall hotel/mixed-use complex.

I'm hoping for 1 or 2 more Laurels in my lifetime, but I think 300-500' will be the Philly sweetspot for future buildings.

Flame away...

Reports of the office job's demise are greatly overstated.

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by R5Ryder

I imagine it's cheaper to replicate 1LP than Chrysler due to materials and some of the intricacies in C's design? Also from an environmental perspective? Just a guess.

I still wish they could jack up 1LP or build a 3LP that'd be the city's tallest besides the monstrosities that are CC and CTC (at least from the North or South... the East and West of each looks fine.)

Was in NY last weekend looking at a lot of the under-construction buildings, and man am I jealous of the u/c Foster building that they got vs the one we got. A 270 Park, proportional with the demand (i.e. probably shorter) would look so much better than what we got.

EDIT: for those that are grasping at straws to make 1LP and CC "supertalls", 1LP's spire is "architectural" but that doesn't mean it can't be enhanced to get the extra 55 feet it needs... but it'd look totally disproportional and be so costly for no ROI. However, CC would just require 10-15 feet of framing added to the top since it's more of a shroud and nothing structural. Still insanely expensive for no ROI, but way easier to do. Hell - could probably send some guys up there with ladders and materials and do it from the inside (I'm not being serious there.)

LP had all the qualities of being the tallest in Philadelphia and PA! Why Willard Rouse didn't go for over 1000' is beyond us, but LP should've been the tallest in Philadelphia!!!

[Arch+Eng]

There is a temporary new view of the skyline from this location...

https://earth.google.com/web/@39.9305173...M2TGcQAjoDCgEwQgIIAEoNCP___________wEQAA

Until the new school gets built.. Drove past it yesterday...looks good in person.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by redddog

reports of the office job's demise are greatly overstated.

+1

[SoCalKid]

Just dropping in from the Los Angeles thread to say I recently visited Philadelphia and was really, really impressed. This city is beautiful, very urban, historic, and clean (at least where I was!). Plus it has incredible food and great nightlife. I never took the subway, but did take SEPTA when I visited someone in East Falls and it was great. I think Philadelphia has to be the most under rated city in America. Easily in the very top tier of American cities. I kept opening redfin and would almost cry at how affordable it was compared to what I'm used to

Rooting for explosive growth for you guys in the next decade!

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Just dropping in from the Los Angeles thread to say I recently visited Philadelphia and was really, really impressed. This city is beautiful, very urban, historic, and clean (at least where I was!). Plus it has incredible food and great nightlife. I never took the subway, but did take SEPTA when I visited someone in East Falls and it was great. I think Philadelphia has to be the most under rated city in America. Easily in the very top tier of American cities. I kept opening redfin and would almost cry at how affordable it was compared to what I'm used to

Rooting for explosive growth for you guys in the next decade!

Well thank you. Lots of negative Nellies on this forum who need periodic reminders of how great our city is indeed. We've come a long way in the past couple of decades and I too am excited to see where we go from here.

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Well thank you. Lots of negative Nellies on this forum who need periodic reminders of how great our city is indeed. We've come a long way in the past couple of decades and I too am excited to see where we go from here.

Well, Northface is closing next month so we are effed.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Just dropping in from the Los Angeles thread to say I recently visited Philadelphia and was really, really impressed. This city is beautiful, very urban, historic, and clean (at least where I was!). Plus it has incredible food and great nightlife. I never took the subway, but did take SEPTA when I visited someone in East Falls and it was great. I think Philadelphia has to be the most under rated city in America. Easily in the very top tier of American cities. I kept opening redfin and would almost cry at how affordable it was compared to what I'm used to

Rooting for explosive growth for you guys in the next decade!

One of Philadelphia's greatest assets is the incredible, diverse, talented culinary scene.

Glad you had a nice visit, spread the word!

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Just dropping in from the Los Angeles thread to say I recently visited Philadelphia and was really, really impressed. This city is beautiful, very urban, historic, and clean (at least where I was!). Plus it has incredible food and great nightlife. I never took the subway, but did take SEPTA when I visited someone in East Falls and it was great. I think Philadelphia has to be the most under rated city in America. Easily in the very top tier of American cities. I kept opening redfin and would almost cry at how affordable it was compared to what I'm used to

Rooting for explosive growth for you guys in the next decade!

That's awesome. Curious where you stayed/ate/drank when you were here?

Thanks so much for the kind words. As many have said, Philly people need to be reminded sometimes.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by Redddog

That's awesome. Curious where you stayed/ate/drank when you were here?

Thanks so much for the kind words. As many have said, Philly people need to be reminded sometimes.

I stayed in Old City/Independence Hall and walked around all of the surrounding area a bunch, including Washington Square. Went to dinner in Gayborhood I think they call it? Some maps show it as part of Washington Square? Walked along Market Street at one point through a decent portion of downtown. Also hung out in Fishtown and visited someone in East Falls. Some friends stayed further south and spent a lot of time in the Italian Market/Passyunk area and liked it a lot. Took the train out of 30th Street Station which was awesome - I was like a kid in a candy shop lol. I was only there for 2 days but wish I could have spent longer.

I'm sure you have the same phenomenon as the LA thread where there are some people focused on highlighting the positive while others are pointing out what's wrong. All I can say is, you're all here for the same reason - you want to see the city grow and improve. In the real world, you'd likely all fall into a similar local political tent of pro urbanism and pro growth.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

Walking home today, I caught Comcast I testing new color lights down the whole building!
Sorry for the bad quality due to the distance. It looked really good IRL

[Arch+Eng]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

Walking home today, I caught Comcast I testing new color lights down the whole building!
Sorry for the bad quality due to the distance. It looked really good IRL

Wow. Nice!