PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS

[Mark in Mount Airy]

I walked by the construction site this afternoon. While I am excited about the project, love many things about the design, and realize it is still under construction, the appearance of the first five floors is ugly when looking up 15th Street from the corner of 15th and Chestnut. It reminded me of a 1980s prison built in the downtown of an economically depressed city like Pittsburgh or Scranton. I hope when the building is completed that this portion of it doesn't look this bad -- or maybe the effect will be lessened through distraction by the building front and the higher-up floors.

[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by Mark in Mount Airy

I walked by the construction site this afternoon. While I am excited about the project, love many things about the design, and realize it is still under construction, the appearance of the first five floors is ugly when looking up 15th Street from the corner of 15th and Chestnut. It reminded me of a 1980s prison built in the downtown of an economically depressed city like Pittsburgh or Scranton. I hope when the building is completed that this portion of it doesn't look this bad -- or maybe the effect will be lessened through distraction by the building front and the higher-up floors.

I don't think it's ugly. But it will look better with the windows/glass in those holes and the retail and entrances that will be next to the garage on 15th.

[Jawnadelphia]

^It's going to look great when completed.
If you forgot what the finished product will be:
https://www.tutorperini.com/projects/hospitality-gaming/w-element-hotel/

[Mr Saturn64]

I noticed recently that this building is visible from the Walt Whitman Bridge.

[summersm343]

Update from Building Philly



https://www.facebook.com/BuildingPhilly

[summersm343]

11/30/2017

[thisisforreal]

Here's 2 Months of Progress:


This Morning:


My view of the thumb drive is almost gone...

[1487]

around 33-34 floors now?

[Trich]

The perspective is a little different but rough count is 11 floors in two months. Not too shabby...

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by 1487

around 33-34 floors now?

Yep. By my count on the renderings, that taller floor near the current top is the 32nd floor.

[Kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Mr Saturn64

I noticed recently that this building is visible from the Walt Whitman Bridge.

also starting to loom large from the girard point bridge

[PhilliesPhan]

It's a little hard to see, but here's a new perspective: 21st and Point Breeze Avenue



I can't upload any further photos due to switching to iOS 11 (iPhone pics now come in .HEIC form, which I can't upload), but this tower is now visible from the 7th floor of Alter Hall/Fox School of Business on Temple's campus!

[Mr Saturn64]

Wait, can you not upload them to Imgur?

[Philly-Drew]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

I can't upload any further photos due to switching to iOS 11 (iPhone pics now come in .HEIC form, which I can't upload)......

Want to switch back? Go to
Settings -> Camera -> Formats

[MetroSplash]

Glass from eye level.

[jsbrook]

Glass seems like it will be the same or similar color as the Ritz Residences. Darker than I expected from renderings. But maybe there is a protective film on it right now. Hard to tell with the small amount at this point.

[El Duderino]

^this reminds me of what 500 Walnut’s glass was looking like as it was going up. Hopefully the darkness eases up once it’s done because i’m in agreement that more contrast with the RATR would be nice.

[Mr Saturn64]

The rendering on page 1 shows the glass to be fairly dark, but not as much as the Ritz. We'll see how it turns out. But then again, in the picture, that could be the effect of the lighting i.

[Jawnadelphia]

[mcgrath618]

Looking more blue like the renderings now. I think it's just highly reflective, and that darker part is from the Residences