PHILADELPHIA | Roberts Center for Pediatric Research | 375 FT | 23 FLOORS - Page 16

1487 · #**301** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 12:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pay homage

Does this building have any design features to mitigate the stench of the garbage trains that are parked there periodically?

The fresh air intakes for the HVAC system are likely near the top of the building- nowhere near the trains.

kraggman · #**302** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 1:29 PM**

[QUOTE=TallCoolOne;7216418]I admit - not an engineer or safety person,.... but part of this is now literally hanging over those tracks ...???

[IMG]

Untitled

Agree. I would question the positioning of this building too. Also, looks like some pretty shoddy steelwork on that section too. Maybe just the camera angle.

Philly Fan · #**303** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 2:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraggman

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallCoolOne

I admit - not an engineer or safety person,.... but part of this is now literally hanging over those tracks ...???

Agree. I would question the positioning of this building too. Also, looks like some pretty shoddy steelwork on that section too. Maybe just the camera angle.

Looking back at the renderings on page 1 of this thread, it appears that the cantilevered steel framing in that photo will support the outdoor terrace on that side of the building, and not the actual tower itself. In other words, only the terrace, and not the tower itself, will hang out over part of the railbed.

Also, note that the steel columns supporting that side of the building arise from BEHIND that thick concrete wall, and not from the top of it, which indicates to me that the concrete wall is designed to SHIELD the bases of those columns from any incident in the adjoining railbed, and not simply support them from below.

br323206 · #**304** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by techchallenger

Personally I thought that building would have been a great candidate for adaptive reuse. I'm imagining modern windows in the now-demolished building (with a garden roof on top), flanked by the two towers. I think it could have looked great. I think the biggest monstrosities in that area are the AT&T behemoth, the new South Street Bridge...er... Highway, and as I mentioned above, the gated Tool Bro community in the middle of an urban neighborhood. I respect your opinion, however.

First time I've ever heard someone say they weren't happy with the South Street Bridge. Enhanced bike lanes, cool lighting, nice design, what's not to like? It's worlds above what used to be there.

kraggman · #**305** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Looking back at the renderings on page 1 of this thread, it appears that the cantilevered steel framing in that photo will support the outdoor terrace on that side of the building, and not the actual tower itself. In other words, only the terrace, and not the tower itself, will hang out over part of the railbed.

Also, note that the steel columns supporting that side of the building arise from BEHIND that thick concrete wall, and not from the top of it, which indicates to me that the concrete wall is designed to SHIELD the bases of those columns from any incident in the adjoining railbed, and not simply support them from below.

You know it's interesting how years ago the tendency was to run major roads and rail lines parallel to rivers. Nowadays those sections of land are the most valuable. The result is road and rail blight wasting high demand space. JMO

1487 · #**306** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraggman

You know it's interesting how years ago the tendency was to run major roads and rail lines parallel to rivers. Nowadays those sections of land are the most valuable. The result is road and rail blight wasting high demand space. JMO

rail lines and roads have to be somewhere. When you consider many riverfront areas were (and still are in some cases) highly industrial it made sense to put the transit arteries there. I'm not sure that highways or rail lines running right through the middle of densely packed residential areas is a better solution.

hammersklavier · #**307** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by br323206

First time I've ever heard someone say they weren't happy with the South Street Bridge. Enhanced bike lanes, cool lighting, nice design, what's not to like? It's worlds above what used to be there.

Biking advocates also had to fight tooth and nail to get that design. And it's far from perfect as it is.

techchallenger · #**308** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by br323206

First time I've ever heard someone say they weren't happy with the South Street Bridge. Enhanced bike lanes, cool lighting, nice design, what's not to like? It's worlds above what used to be there.

To start, there aren't even any barriers to separate pedestrians from cars (something the predecessor - originally beautiful, but crumbling - had). There were a number of people unhappy with the design and finished product and I remember published reviews that were rightfully unkind. In my opinion Philadelphia had a great opportunity to build a postcard-worthy 'statement' a la London's Millennium Bridge (but with car lanes, yes), and instead we got a multi-lane highway overpass with some sparkly doodads pasted on as an afterthought.

MikeNigh · #**309** Posted **Oct 30, 2015, 11:21 PM**

Looking forward to taking shots from this angle in the future...

jsbrook · #**310** Posted **Oct 31, 2015, 11:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1487

rail lines and roads have to be somewhere. When you consider many riverfront areas were (and still are in some cases) highly industrial it made sense to put the transit arteries there. I'm not sure that highways or rail lines running right through the middle of densely packed residential areas is a better solution.

Yeah, well...Chicago and Paris and a score of other cities manage to do the Riverfront right and still remain economically viable and prosperous. Of course, at this point, largescale capping and a Boston-style dig are extremely expensive for Philly. Hard mistakes to fix.

Nexis4Jersey · #**311** Posted **Oct 31, 2015, 3:06 PM**

From yesterday

Skyscrapercity of Center City Philadelphia by Corey Best, on Flickr

summersm343 · #**312** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 12:43 AM**

11/4/2015

thisisforreal · #**313** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 4:40 PM**

From the South Street Bridge:

1487 · #**314** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 5:11 PM**

People working here will have some nice views since there is nothing of any height around this building.

summersm343 · #**315** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 7:01 PM**

Update from Curbed Philly

http://philly.curbed.com/archives/2015/11/06/check-out-chops-23story-tower.php

summersm343 · #**316** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 7:26 PM**

Photos taken by Elevator1

kingtut · #**317** Posted **Nov 8, 2015, 4:31 PM**

CHoP tower in foreground but notice on left the Spanish Queen ,The Drake, as she's seated on Spruce and 15th

1487 · #**318** Posted **Nov 9, 2015, 1:43 PM**

you have great views of this, the dranoff condos and FMC tower going west on Walnut across the river. Its a good vantage point for the changes in this area. Its going to be a great view in about 2 years.

summersm343 · #**319** Posted **Nov 9, 2015, 3:30 PM**

Update from Building Philly

https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly

McBane · #**320** Posted **Nov 9, 2015, 6:24 PM**

Look at all those fucking cranes