PHILADELPHIA | Comcast Technology Center | 1,121 FT | 60 FLOORS

[Baconboy007]

Does anyone know the build schedule of when they build the Comcast center? What I mean is are they going to build the SEPTA station below ground before building up or is it all built simultaneously?

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by apetrella802

For what it's worth

I drove by the site around 2:30pm stopped and talked to a worker on the site.

He said they must get the work done to put equipment on the roof of the Sterling by this Friday because the Comcast site excavation will start next Monday.

Progress in place!

[Roadcruiser1]

Originally Posted by Baconboy007

Does anyone know the build schedule of when they build the Comcast center? What I mean is are they going to build the SEPTA station below ground before building up or is it all built simultaneously?

I read somewhere that this building will be connected to the neighboring Broad Street Station using a tunnel for pedestrians.........

[Jawnadelphia]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

I read somewhere that this building will be connected to the neighboring Broad Street Station using a tunnel for pedestrians.........

Suburban Station is being extended to connect with this new tower underground. Similar to how the SS concourse was extended when the Comcast Center was built, adding new retail, food, food court etc. to Suburban Station/Comcast Center.

Walking through the bowels of SS on nearly a daily basis I can tell you no construction has started from the underground levels.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

Suburban Station is being extended to connect with this new tower underground. Similar to how the SS concourse was extended when the Comcast Center was built, adding new retail, food, food court etc. to Suburban Station/Comcast Center.

Walking through the bowels of SS on nearly a daily basis I can tell you no construction has started from the underground levels.

on a sort of related note

http://citypaper.net/article.php?Suburban-Station-to-become-Verizon-Station-20578

[1487]

it was stated before that 18th street must be raised slightly to allow clearance for pedestrian tunnel to the new building. That should be interesting to say the least. The utilities in the vicinity of 18th and arch have been marked out for a few weeks so its obvious someone is close to doing something underground. I wouldnt be surprised if they actually have to relocate a ton of underground lines under 18th to make this happen.

[josef]

Originally Posted by Kidphilly

on a sort of related note

http://citypaper.net/article.php?Suburban-Station-to-become-Verizon-Station-20578

Sadface.

[R5Ryder]

If that deal gets close to the finish line, it wouldn't be shocking to see Comcast come in and outbid Verizon to prevent one of their competitors from sponsoring the station that most of their employees would have to commute through to get to work.

Not that I'm a fan of Comcast as a company, but it wouldn't bother me too much to have it named "Comcast Station", since it would connect directly to two Comcast buildings and would sound almost like more of a geographic name than a corporate name (as opposed to the buildings themselves, which are obviously corporately named.)

[Plokoon11]

While waiting patiently I thought I'd bring something up. The one thing I love about this tower is that it screams Icon, sort of like how the Sears Tower has that shape and the 2 antennas or the John Hancock building. It has that quality. Compared to the Whishire Grand which is a neat building the antenna seems to skinny and if that spire was on this tower it wouldn't have that standout appearance. And the fact that there is really nothing like this tower anywhere in the United States will make this a standout tower.

[R5Ryder]

Completely disagree. Personal feelings about the design aside, there exists no universe in which this is an iconic tower. Your examples of Willis and Hancock are perfect examples of iconic towers - you could take a generic skyline, put one or both of those in the background, and people would say "oh, that's Chicago".

This building has a lot of neat features and arguably a very uniquely-identifying attribute (the shape of the spire), but it's not that special that it would become a icon that could represent the city at a glance. If 1Liberty was supertall, then maybe it'd be iconic, but it's the only building (especially when paired with it's little sister) that could possibly reach that status.

Hancock and Willis were instant-icons, due to their unique color, dual antennas, and height. This building is just glass, isn't exceptionally tall (despite being a supertall), and doesn't have a "🞵🞵🞵🞵" shape that really makes it stand out to the common observer. Doesn't mean that it's not great and won't make a major impact, but let's not get carried away and throw out words like "icon". Just my opinion.

[skyscraper]

[/QUOTE] If 1Liberty was supertall, then maybe it'd be iconic, but it's the only building (especially when paired with it's little sister) that could possibly reach that status.[/QUOTE]
First, a building doesn't need to be supertall to be iconic. But second, 1 Liberty would never be considered iconic because it is merely a postmodern glass interpretation of a real iconic building, the Chrysler Building. And its little sister even less iconic.

[/QUOTE]Hancock and Willis were instant-icons, due to their unique color, dual antennas, and height. [/QUOTE]
Not just their colors, antennas, and height, but the tube structural systems are what made them iconic. Hancock was the first tube with its X-bracing, then the Sears tower built on that with bundled tubes.

[/QUOTE]This building is just glass, isn't exceptionally tall (despite being a supertall), and doesn't have a "🞵🞵🞵🞵" shape that really makes it stand out to the common observer. Doesn't mean that it's not great and won't make a major impact, but let's not get carried away and throw out words like "icon". Just my opinion.[/QUOTE]
I don't think he was getting carried away, I think iconic fits with the CITC, certainly more than Liberty Place.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

I think iconic fits with the CITC, certainly more than Liberty Place.

And especially, of course, the iconic reference to an industrial factory smokestack:





[Just kidding with you. ]

[Baconboy007]

Maybe it'll be Iconic cause it will get outsiders to recognize Philly as a world class city moving forward.

Jeez... Leave CITC alone you guys

[1487]

this building is a reflection of trends in current architecture. It (unsurprisingly) looks more modern than liberty place but IMHO liberty is still the best looking and most memorable skyscraper in CC. And in spite of the fact that it is a more modern incarnation of the chrysler building, I really havent seen too many buildings that stand out as much. its far better than most of the generic high rises built from the 60s through the 90s in this and other cities.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by Baconboy007

Jeez... Leave CITC alone you guys

Sorry about that, Brian Roberts.

[Oh, wait, was I not supposed to give that away? ]

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

First, a building doesn't need to be supertall to be iconic. But second, 1 Liberty would never be considered iconic because it is merely a postmodern glass interpretation of a real iconic building, the Chrysler Building. And its little sister even less iconic.

I'm not sure what to make of this statement. 1 Liberty is the skyscraper most people remember from the Philly skyline. It's by far the most striking and memorable skyscraper in the city and pretty much defines the city's skyline. Just because it pays homage to the Chrysler building doesn't make Liberty 1 any less of a gorgeous building.

The Comcast building is a great looking building, but so far it doesn't have the same presence on the skyline that 1 Lib does despite being the taller building. Only time will tell if CITC will be iconic.

[Plokoon11]

The hancock and willis have been around being able to grab the iconic status. This tower hasn't even been built yet, so to say it won't be iconic is kind of an empty statement.

[TechTalkGuy]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

there is really nothing like this tower anywhere in the United States will make this a standout tower.

Let's compare!

425 Park Ave, New York, NY

Comcast Innovation & Technology Center, Philadelphia, PA

This design is not new, but still awesome!

[philatonian]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

While waiting patiently I thought I'd bring something up. The one thing I love about this tower is that it screams Icon, sort of like how the Sears Tower has that shape and the 2 antennas or the John Hancock building. It has that quality. Compared to the Whishire Grand which is a neat building the antenna seems to skinny and if that spire was on this tower it wouldn't have that standout appearance. And the fact that there is really nothing like this tower anywhere in the United States will make this a standout tower.

I like the design of Wilshire Grand's tower, but I think the spire is too subdued. Even as skinny as the spire is, it should rise even higher to balance the building, similar to the Bank of America building in NY. Then again, I wouldn't want the Wilshire to top over CITC.

[Plokoon11]

Eh I meant currently built. I'm sure there will be new modern buildings built, especially NYC and Chicago.