PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by cafeguy

Holy Sh*t that is awesome. If they could have an eastern entrance to the zoo, and let visitors combine passes like you said, a tourist or someone visiting could just take that right into the zoo. That would be amazing. The new fairmount thing asks for pedestrian bridges, but I think this could be a bigger attraction. As it is right now, you basically have to walk a highway to get there or walk all the way to girard ave! The view of the water fall and boathouse row would be amazing. Their released plan, however, seems more concerned with connecting each side of the river at points that are further west of girard.

redacted

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by Mappy

An oil derrick is the first thing I though of too, with that 1876 design.

If they were to do this, I would think the best place would be somewhere that is in alignment with the Ben Franklin parkway (for the best views).
The Fairmount Park plan says they want to realign Belmont Avenue, so why not create a big traffic circle at this alignment and put and observation/communications tower in the middle of that tower?

something like this?

What about a 3000 foot flag pole on belmont plateau with a huge flag on top. Something iconic that could be seen across the city and beyond. A night it could be lit and act a beacon. I'd think the actual ground needed would be minimal and total cost couldn't be more than a couple of million.

[ILovePhilly]

FMC Ground Breaking

Apparently we all missed the news that FMC was breaking ground today. Philly Mag reports:

Today’s groundbreaking for the 690-foot tall, 49-story FMC Tower at Cira South celebrates the start of a construction project that will probably go through 2016.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

FMC Ground Breaking

Apparently we all missed the news that FMC was breaking ground today. Philly Mag reports:

We only missed it if we didn't look in the right thread (read from post #1180 to the end of the thread):

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=210333&page=59

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by DIESELPOLO

I thought it was established that going with the Vancouver-style with new Delaware River housing (i.e. minimizing the 'wall' effect) was the preferred highrise vernacular.

This appears not to adhere to that principle.

The only thing behind this lot is a on ramp to I-95. What the hell is it walling off the river from? Lol

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

FMC Ground Breaking

Apparently we all missed the news that FMC was breaking ground today. Philly Mag reports:

Check out the FMC thread

[sayitaintso]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Check out the FMC thread

The 49-story, 730-foot tall tower will be a striking addition to the City's skyline, with 10-foot floor-to-ceiling glass walls allowing for 360-degree panoramic views of the Schuylkill River, Center City and nearby green spaces such as Schuylkill Banks Park and Penn Park. Its 861,000 square feet of rentable space will feature 622,000 square feet of office space, 268 luxury apartments and executive suites, and a bar/restaurant on the ground floor. Amenities will include an aquatic center with pool and deck, fitness center and spa, and a state-of-the-art business conference center.

Just pulled this nugget off of market watch

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brandyw...re-south-2014-05-14?reflink=MW_news_stmp

The incredible growing building. This is from PR newswire so i assume it was written by Brandywine and sent to their pr agency. The 730 height is a pretty big mistake if the tower is still really 690.

Further down in the release it quotes Nutter on the 730.

"This development sends a 49-story, 730-foot message from Philadelphia to the global marketplace: ...said Mayor Michael A. Nutter

If true it's basically as tall as Bell Atlantic tower.

[Outta here]

This baby seems to be growing faster than most can keep track . 730 ' is quite a stretch from 690 ' for a 49 story building . So at the risk of being the " cold blanket " , I'll believe it
when I see it ...... But then , I'm still on baby food , so what do I know

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by relnahe

I know I'll sound like a NIMBY but I don't think anything of substantial height should be so close to the bridge. It'll obscure views of the bridge unfortunately.

Where it is I don't think it will be bad. It won't obstruct views from the bridge, which don't really look at much facing north. On the street, this block is surrounded by a lot of concrete freeways, and the few houses west of Columbus are elevated and would be able to see the bridge.

[Flyers2001]

"Spark Therapeutics, a gene therapy medical company, this week signed an agreement for a headquarters in West Philadelphia. Spark Therapeutics, spun out of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in October with $50 million in capital, will build out a 28,000-square-foot facility at 3737 Market St. to house its business operations, clinical research and development, and manufacturing."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20...st_Philadelphia.html#uHou2OFRYWZbZA8b.99

Any additional info on this project?

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

"Spark Therapeutics, a gene therapy medical company, this week signed an agreement for a headquarters in West Philadelphia. Spark Therapeutics, spun out of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in October with $50 million in capital, will build out a 28,000-square-foot facility at 3737 Market St. to house its business operations, clinical research and development, and manufacturing."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20...st_Philadelphia.html#uHou2OFRYWZbZA8b.99

Any additional info on this project?

They're going in to 3737 Market which is under construction right now. I think with this addition the office space in this building is almost full.

[Philly-Drew]

Post deleted. Wrong thread.

[josef]

Originally Posted by Late1

Yes, but as fun an idea as it is, it's just not a reliable attraction due to its touchiness when it comes to the weather. I've always wanted Philly to have its own unique Eiffel/Space Needle/Gateway Arch/CN Tower kind of icon, and the zoo location would be perfect.

I don't think this'll make you happy, cause it's in Jersey, but this is supposedly happening: http://www.nj.com/indulge/index.ssf/2013...s_observation_tower_for_spring_2015.html

Oh, and speaking of Jefferson, has anyone noticed that they've been renovating the building near the corner of 8th & Chestnut for something? I forget what... But people have been working on the ground floor for months now. It's this building.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by summersm343

They're going in to 3737 Market which is under construction right now. I think with this addition the office space in this building is almost full.

Well that's good to hear. Obviously the quicker filled the more needed. Good to see start ups like this growing.

[bucks native]

"Making a Classic Modern: Frank Gehry's Master Plan for the Philadelphia Museum of Art," an exhibition detailing the museum's future with models, site plans, digital images, and floor plans, will be on view from July 1 to Sept. 1 in the museum's Dorrance Galleries.

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainme...Gehry_expansion.html#6XF5Dpzcmt8skkT5.99


FYI: Number of artworks in the museum's collection = 600,000

[hammersklavier]

As long as Gehry doesn't get a chance to touch the existing first and second floor gallery space, this will be a good project. None of his usual "flourishes"--the whole thing's going underground.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

As long as Gehry doesn't get a chance to touch the existing first and second floor gallery space, this will be a good project. None of his usual "flourishes"--the whole thing's going underground.

Of course at the glacial pace they intend to proceed, largely due to the need to find actual cash money first, Gehry himself will be permanently underground long before the work is completed.

[summersm343]

3400 Civic Center Blvd- Penn Medicine South Tower

This building will now top out at 16 floors and 302 feet.

http://www.phila.gov/CITYPLANNING/PROJECTREVIEWS/Pages/CivicDesignReview.aspx

Can we get the thread title updated to say:

PHILADELPHIA | PCAM South Tower | 16 floors | 302 feet?

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=207136

I will pull renderings when I'm off of work

Thanks!

[Pennsgrant]

Originally Posted by summersm343

3400 Civic Center Blvd- Penn Medicine South Tower

This building will now top out at 16 floors and 302 feet.

http://www.phila.gov/CITYPLANNING/PROJECTREVIEWS/Pages/CivicDesignReview.aspx

I'm sure this is fantastic use of space for Penn Medicine but This is one vertical addition that is all wrong due to the massing/walling effect it will' have a midst the South Campus and next to PCAM . As if every building has to be 300 ft high , 500 ft wide.

From an aesthetic viewpoint they are designing a dud of a campus from points E.

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by josef

I don't think this'll make you happy, cause it's in Jersey, but this is supposedly happening: http://www.nj.com/indulge/index.ssf/2013...s_observation_tower_for_spring_2015.html

That's actually pretty cool. Makes sense that it's in NJ. The best part about Camden is the view.