PHILADELPHIA | W Hotel & Element by Westin | 617 FT | 51 FLOORS - Page 149

TechTalkGuy · #**2961** Posted **May 18, 2018, 2:23 AM**

Orange sky!

Mr Saturn64 · #**2962** Posted **May 18, 2018, 9:24 PM**

TechTalkGuy · #**2963** Posted **May 19, 2018, 1:10 AM**

This tower adds density around South Penn Square!

GtownFriend · #**2964** Posted **May 20, 2018, 10:52 PM**

From PSFS:

20180518_183250 by Leonard Bachman, on Flickr

Scottydont · #**2965** Posted **May 20, 2018, 11:50 PM**

Mmmm that blank wall keeps growin

TechTalkGuy · #**2966** Posted **May 21, 2018, 12:37 AM**

It’s a blank wall.

TK2001 · #**2967** Posted **May 21, 2018, 2:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottydont

Mmmm that blank wall keeps growin

I think it stops here

TechTalkGuy · #**2968** Posted **May 21, 2018, 2:44 AM**

It could be worse!

PHL10 · #**2969** Posted **May 21, 2018, 11:57 AM**

Friday from 18th and Spruce:

Saturday from 15th and Walnut.

JohnIII · #**2970** Posted **May 21, 2018, 3:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechTalkGuy

It could be worse!

That looks like a building I saw in lower Manhattan.

JohnIII · #**2971** Posted **May 21, 2018, 3:34 PM**

What I find remarkable about this building is how its shaping up; the south elevation is coming along nice.

Also overall the skyline has really achieved a remarkable milestone with this building few seem to notice. Our skyline in general can now be said that a 50 stories building is not a dominant structure; from the South Street Bridge for example the building can be seen but its far from the tallest structure in the city. Very few cities nationwide can say that.
I remember when the tragedy of 9/11 occurred and the 3rd tower fell the news mentioned that a 50 story tower fell but in New York it was hardly noticed; of course due to the scale of the tragedy it was understandable; however very few cities can say that; New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and few others.

Philly-Drew · #**2972** Posted **May 22, 2018, 3:02 AM**

Speaking of the blank wall on the North side of the tower, it reminds me of another iconic building in town with an ugly blank wall. The PSFS building looks great from all sides except for when looking directly at its south side. There is a tall, black, blank wall that looks hideous and every time I see it I think the southern exposure must make that wall super hot when the sun is beating on it.

Picture courtesy of http://philaphilia.blogspot.com.

It’s interesting how few pictures there are of the PSFS building from due south.

To a much smaller extent there are a couple of mid rises in Old City which also have southern blank concrete walls. Not my favorite for sure.

My guess is that the W puts some sort of cladding over the blank concrete.

eixample · #**2973** Posted **May 22, 2018, 8:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

Speaking of the blank wall on the North side of the tower, it reminds me of another iconic building in town with an ugly blank wall. The PSFS building looks great from all sides except for when looking directly at its south side.

...

My guess is that the W puts some sort of cladding over the blank concrete.

Interesting parallel to the PSFS building. The south view is the one I always get from South Philly. A mural or decorative banner of some sort (not an advertisement) would make a ton of sense.

Regarding the W, I don't think they are going to put up any cladding. They already have cladding at the first few levels and the wall is obscured at most angles by the residences at the Ritz anyway. To my uneducated eye, it looks like finished concrete panels too. Walking by now, from street level, it doesn't bother me. The glass being fully installed will make the blank concrete less jarring.

TechTalkGuy · #**2974** Posted **May 22, 2018, 12:03 PM**

Well, that settles it.
If the iconic PSFS building has a blank wall, then the W is good to go!

Baconboy007 · #**2975** Posted **May 22, 2018, 4:01 PM**

I was looking at some old pictures yesterday and realized that even the res at the ritz has a blank wall

Picture is from 4 years ago, by the way.

TechTalkGuy · #**2976** Posted **May 22, 2018, 6:15 PM**

All this talk about blank walls.

Look, the AT&T Long Lines Building in
Lower Manhattan has solid walls all around.

It looks like the W doesn’t need your permission
to have a partial blank wall.

JorgeGeorgy · #**2977** Posted **May 22, 2018, 9:12 PM**

PSFS South facade is colored brick. It’s better than what I see at W so far. That blank wall is really noticeable along Vine Street, north side, between 10th and Broad.