PHILADELPHIA | American Commerce Center | 1,510' Pinnacle / 1,210' Roof | 63 FLOORS

[tower]

this building is growing on me and it's not even built yet, or is even a given for that matter. i love it. spire and all.

[volguus zildrohar]

Originally Posted by Don098

Could anyone google-map the general site of ACC and highlight the general area where this mystery tower is proposed, please? I can't really picture it. Thanks!

The red block is ACC and the 'mystery tower' is directly left/west of it. A few buildings on that block were demolished in 2007. I guess now we know why.

[CondoGuru]

When surfing through Walnut Street Capital's site, I noticed a "featured" project called the "Delano." It looks almost identical in design, amenities and location to MarinaView. Is it possible they bought this from the previous developer and are making it a rental? Anyone have inside info about this?

[TheOldMan]

Interesting information regarding that "mystery tower". I wouldnt mind seeing an 750-850 footer in that location. A well-designed, dark-colored cylindrical design with a great lighting scheme a la peachtree center in Atlanta would fit in nicely and provide some variety to the skyline.

[Stratosphere]

I must be the only one who doesn't like this tower. It reminds me of the old Freedom Tower design.

[justremember]

I don't post here much, but I feel the need to weigh in on the whole "looks like the Freedom Tower" thing.

1. Isn't the [old, I'm not sure] design of the Freedom Tower similar to an old concept for Comcast Center?
2. The Freedom Tower will be 1776 feet, the year that the Declaration of Independence was signed IN PHILADELPHIA!

Somehow, this makes me not so upset that there is some similarity between the two designs. Add to that that ACC still has some unique qualities, that the design will change, and that I remember reading, I believe somewhere on this thread, that we don't even know what material the exterior of the building will be, and it looks like maybe the concern over the similarities is a little overblown and a little premature.

Just a thought.

[Ninjawho]

Originally Posted by justremember

I don't post here much, but I feel the need to weigh in on the whole "looks like the Freedom Tower" thing.

1. Isn't the [old, I'm not sure] design of the Freedom Tower similar to an old concept for Comcast Center?
2. The Freedom Tower will be 1776 feet, the year that the Declaration of Independence was signed IN PHILADELPHIA!

Somehow, this makes me not so upset that there is some similarity between the two designs. Add to that that ACC still has some unique qualities, that the design will change, and that I remember reading, I believe somewhere on this thread, that we don't even know what material the exterior of the building will be, and it looks like maybe the concern over the similarities is a little overblown and a little premature.

Just a thought.

Or maybe its a little overblown and premature because everyone and their mother keeps repeating it OVER AND OVER AGAIN.


If you are perusing this thread for the first time, (mainly those people not from Philly who don't check this everyday), please don't tell us it looks like the Freedom tower design. WE KNOW ALREADY.


I think I might put that on the front page.


geez.

[volguus zildrohar]

Originally Posted by CondoGuru

When surfing through Walnut Street Capital's site, I noticed a "featured" project called the "Delano." It looks almost identical in design, amenities and location to MarinaView. Is it possible they bought this from the previous developer and are making it a rental? Anyone have inside info about this?

That is all true. It was recently posted on one of these Philly threads.

[kraggman]

Originally Posted by Ninjawho

Or maybe its a little overblown and premature because everyone and their mother keeps repeating it OVER AND OVER AGAIN.


If you are perusing this thread for the first time, (mainly those people not from Philly who don't check this everyday), please don't tell us it looks like the Freedom tower design. WE KNOW ALREADY.


I think I might put that on the front page.


geez.

Yeah, like the Chicago Spire thread "NO OBSERVATION DECK, SO DON'T ASK!!"

How 'bout, "WE KNOW IT RESEMBLES THE FREEDOM TOWER, SO DON'T MENTION IT!!!"

[photoLith]

Hmm I like it, kinda fat looking though, but it will make Phillies skyline a lot better, it deserves this tower.

[russbaseball]

Originally Posted by kraggman

Yeah, like the Chicago Spire thread "NO OBSERVATION DECK, SO DON'T ASK!!"

How 'bout, "WE KNOW IT RESEMBLES THE FREEDOM TOWER, SO DON'T MENTION IT!!!"

i really like this idea! i was thinking the same thing.

[Ninjawho]

Originally Posted by russbaseball

i really like this idea! i was thinking the same thing.

Done'd.

[highdensity32]

Originally Posted by CondoGuru

When surfing through Walnut Street Capital's site, I noticed a "featured" project called the "Delano." It looks almost identical in design, amenities and location to MarinaView. Is it possible they bought this from the previous developer and are making it a rental? Anyone have inside info about this?

There is no mistaking that location next to the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge. It looks like they did buy this project and will build as apartments. I believe the zoning and approvals are already in place.

[TheOldMan]

Does anyone have any idea if/when Walnut Street Capital will submit the needed zoning variance request to the zoning board?

[djvandrake]

Has anyone noticed this thing looks like the old Freedom Tower design?

*ducks, runs, and hides*



Seriously? Who cares? It's an awesome project and Philly is deserving. Were it not for the offset spire, then it wouldn't even be an issue. I like the geometry at the top. The combination of tapering sides and the angle of roof line give it a very unique feature. I don't care what it may resemble, I can't wait for groundbreaking.

[sfcity1]

Originally Posted by slow-v6

Why do people compare Philly to DC and Boston?? isnt Philly bigger and taller then both already?? Philly should be compared to NY and Chicago.

For tall and impressive buildings, Philly is making strides ahead of DC and Boston. However, in other terms, DC has a little over 100 msf of downtown office space and is much bigger from a business and political standpoint, Boston has about 56 million square feet of dowtown office space, and Philly has about 40 million square feet of downtown office space at the current time.

[kraggman]

Originally Posted by Ninjawho

Done'd.

Hilarious !!!!

[BuildItUp]

Originally Posted by Stratosphere

I must be the only one who doesn't like this tower. It reminds me of the old Freedom Tower design.

Yes, you are and your comments reminds me of a parrot... all it does is repeats.. it reminds me of the Freedom Tower ... who cares, we just want to see it built.

[donybrx]

Originally Posted by sfcity1

For tall and impressive buildings, Philly is making strides ahead of DC and Boston. However, in other terms, DC has a little over 100 msf of downtown office space and is much bigger from a business and political standpoint, Boston has about 56 million square feet of dowtown office space, and Philly has about 40 million square feet of downtown office space at the current time.

Washington is the nation's capital; Boston is the State capital; both situations generate the need for office space in addition to those of conventional urban needs. Were Philadelphia PA"s capital, you see an enormous increment in the city's office space requirements.

[apetrella802]

i was at the DAG meeting this morning where KPF and Walnut Street Capital presented a somewhat detailed analysis of the design issues for ACC.

Brad M. was there and i'm sure he will post on his website his thoughts.

The things I remeber that I thought were significant were:

a) The viability of this supertall project is based to a large extent on the concept of mixed use so there is a synergism between the hotel, retail and office components. So that the internal integration would facilitate the office workers using the hotel facilities such as restaurant and conference rooms for example.

b) public amenities are very prominate in the retail base, including garden like ground level accessable from the street, a mini-multiplex featuring food based on a concept that has taken hold in australia.

c) the NW corner flanges that terminate in the spire are meant to relate to the presence of the Art Musuem which will be viable from the roof garden. This is a little vague but not entirely without some merrit.

d) Alan Greenberger asked if KPF has any experience with designing a very high density skyscraper on a colonial street grid and in fact they did! In the Wall Strett area of NY. This area is of course a tangle of 17th c. streets.

e) when a NIMBY got agitated about how narrow Cuthpert st was saying that it was only 13 feet wide the KPF man produced a diagram showing that trhe loading docks were at the point where it was 17 feet wide. The KPF man then went on to talk about how the nature of a city is to allow high density living. Philadlephia's train and subway sytem allow this to work whereas in a city like Atlanta they need 12 stories of parking in order to accommodate this desity.

f) they will explore how to have a direct connection to the underground concourse.

g) shadow studies are under way but the Sterling might have shadow in the early morning but by mid-mording this should not be an issue.

h) there will be a need for some zoning or legislative chnabges but they did not sound to be difficult to deal with.

i) When the developer was asked if he had ever attempted something on this scale he said no but KPF and law firm representing the developer have had experience in desinging and bringing to fruition many super talls around the world.

j) When asked about an observation platform there was a firm NO! The cost of robbing space for 2 or 3 elevator shafts would make the project untenable.

In all i thought the team,i.e., KPF, Developer and law firm, have really done their homework and are continuing to do so.

I thought the KPF people and the develop