PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Pennsgrant]

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[phillyskyline]

Originally Posted by Guipos08

end of 2017

Thanks, I would imagine construction starting within a year to meet that time frame.

[supertallchaser]

ground breaking is set for summer of this year

[Skyscraper.Phanatic]

I congratulate Comcast on creating 1,500 jobs in the city and for building a supertall next to their world headquarters. However, I think Foster could have somehow given us more cutting edge design for this important building. I would have to agree with a previous post that the lower portion looks a lot like the NYT building in NYC. In fact, the building looks more like it was designed to fit in TSQ/NYC than to be a signature building in our city. The best two things about this building are the jobs created and the fact that the underground train concourse will be extended. Not too many cities can boast of such a large undergound concourse such as we have at Suburban Station.

[JG573]

HUGE news for Philly especially the 1,500 new jobs with SEPTA being actually funded and now a super-tall, Philadelphia is poised for a brighter future and hopefully more recognition. Bravo Comcast.

I like the design and I am excited to see the pictures of it rise. I am not sure if they are thinking of this but that white strip going up the middle to the top of the spire I would love to see be able to light up in different colors.

[brenster]

At some of the wide angles it looks out of place, I hate to say it, I feel if the hotel part wasn't there, it would fit with the surrounding buildings better. I am going to love eating at that restaurant at the top however.

The model makes me feel it won't look so bad.

[japmes]

I like it. It's not ostentatious and the asymmetrical design is a nice contrast to the city's other 80s-style symmetrical towers. It moves the skyline in the right direction, in my opinion. Although, I would have liked to see an additional 5-10 floors.

[christof]

It looks like the building is giving the bird. Kinda disappointed with the design.

[PhiLaw]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/loca...om-New-Comcast-Skyscraper-240319651.html

[Roadcruiser1]

I posted this on the building's thread, but........

• Video Link

[bucks native]

Originally Posted by christof

It looks like the building is giving the bird. Kinda disappointed with the design.

That "bird" is the building's core. The remainder of the building is see-through. All glass. Inside, it should feel as though one is floating, in "lofts," not offices.

Classic: Form follows function. The interior will be like nowhere else. I would feel privileged to work there.

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

I posted this on the building's thread, but........

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I could watch that video over and over a million times. As much as I was underwhelmed by the renderings at first, I think this video really shows how amazing this design is. This is going to be a killer building!

[Castle]

Looks like 2014 is going to be a banner year for Philadelphia highrise construction with a possible four projects (Comcast ITC, FMC/Cira South, SLS International, and The W/Element) over 500' beginning construction. Has Philly ever seen a single calendar year that had that number of taller skyscrapers beginning to rise?

[justremember]

I was away from this forum for a few years due to just being busy with work and started following again in the past few months... boy did I pick the right time.

Never posted much, but I had to throw my two cents in. The very first time I saw an image of this building (on my tiny cell phone screen yesterday evening) it seemed like the building looked great BUT made the skyline look incomplete. I think that was the view from the Art Museum. I just keep imagining how awesome it will look 20-30 years from now as more similarly sized buildings are added to the skyline.

Also, I think while criticism is cool, the most important thing about this building is the jobs it will bring. More jobs = a more economically stable, safer, vibrant city = maybe more big buildings!

And ever since I was a little kid riding down City Line Ave. I wished NBC10 would move it's studios into Center City. So I'm happy.

[SJPhillyBoy]

FROM CBS PHILLY

Latest News

Comcast Announces Plans To Build Philadelphia’s Tallest Skyscraper

January 15, 2014 4:53 PM

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01...ns-to-build-new-tower-in-philadelphia-2/

Being billed as the tallest building in the United States outside of New York or Chicago, the new Comcast tower, at 1,121 feet, will stand 59 stories tall on Arch Street between 18th and 19th, and will employee 20,000 people during construction, according to a company press release.

The new building, which will become home to television stations NBC 10 and Telemundo 62 (both now owned by Comcast as part of its purchase of NBC Universal) will also include a block-long lobby, and outdoor plaza, and a Four Seasons hotel in the upper floors which will feature a restaurant and a 360 degree view of the city.

Video in link includes Brian Roberts and Lord Norman Foster interview.

[bucks native]

Unlike Google's employees which are bussed and ferried to and from the Mothership, wasting time and money; Comcast's employees, if they choose, can walk to work in pleasantly walkable Philadelphia. Smart company - Comcast.

Suddenly, with this new - in so many ways - building, the tech giants' suburban campuses have become very low tech.

[skyscraper]

Either I missed this amid the excitement of the Comcast tower announcement, or this article got something wrong. But according to the Architect's Newspaper this morning, the new building will be connecting to a "new" SEPTA subway station: "The stacked design culminates in an illuminated beacon that will become the new focal point in the city skyline. At ground level, the block-long lobby will include restaurants and retail and connect to a new SEPTA subway station." I am pretty sure that the building will connect to Suburban station, but are they also planning on finally building a station for the MFL at 18th or 19th Street?
Here is the full article: http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7040

[crackpinky]

Haven't posted here in awhile, but very exciting to see this officially announced. I'm actually glad Comcast held off until now. It's much better that they waited to announce something concrete than to have put out some proposal that was still a couple years off from being built.

I'm curious as to what the roof height is. I read in the Metro this morning that the height to roof would be 1 foot taller than the Comcast Center. But in the bizjournal article it said a 125 spire which would put it at 996.

Either way this is f'n awesome!!

[PhiLaw]

Tacit approval from Inga.

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/201401...t_tower_a_new_symbol_for_technology.html

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

Tacit approval from Inga.

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/201401...t_tower_a_new_symbol_for_technology.html

she had to get a little dig in at the end, didn't she.