PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[Nightman]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

Philebrity with an important addition: there will be a slide.



http://www.philebrity.com/2014/01/15/tha...tallest-building-in-philly-at-1800-arch/

I am looking forward to the addition to the skyline. Unfortunately my only basis for comparison to the google campus is through the movie The Internship. Looks like Foster watched the movie as well and added the slide, bean bags, and transparent dry erase boards to the renders. Where are the napping pods?

[McBane]

Does Liberty still have plans for the surface lot at 19th and Arch (across from the new apartments)?

Summer, you seem to have knowledge of these things.

Remember that the new Comcast tower is only 20% owned by Liberty and this tower will be entirely occupied by Comcast. I'm not sure that this development will preclude them from building more.

And yes, 2014 is shaping to be a banner year! It's certainly the busiest since the go-go days of 2004-2006.

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Either I missed this amid the excitement of the Comcast tower announcement, or this article got something wrong. But according to the Architect's Newspaper this morning, the new building will be connecting to a "new" SEPTA subway station: "The stacked design culminates in an illuminated beacon that will become the new focal point in the city skyline. At ground level, the block-long lobby will include restaurants and retail and connect to a new SEPTA subway station." I am pretty sure that the building will connect to Suburban station, but are they also planning on finally building a station for the MFL at 18th or 19th Street?
Here is the full article: http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7040

Definitely a misunderstanding. The chances of SEPTA adding a MFL stop in the near (10 years) or mid (25 years) is zero. Even after that, the odds are extremely low.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

Definitely a misunderstanding. The chances of SEPTA adding a MFL stop in the near (10 years) or mid (25 years) is zero. Even after that, the odds are extremely low.

That's what I figured, but you never know. In NYC, it used to be common practice for a developer to renovate nearby subway stations in exchange for certain zoning concessions such as additional building height, so I thought maybe Comcast had struck some kind of deal with the city to fund at least partially a new MFL station. But more likely, the article is wrong.

[MikeNigh]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Either I missed this amid the excitement of the Comcast tower announcement, or this article got something wrong. But according to the Architect's Newspaper this morning, the new building will be connecting to a "new" SEPTA subway station: "The stacked design culminates in an illuminated beacon that will become the new focal point in the city skyline. At ground level, the block-long lobby will include restaurants and retail and connect to a new SEPTA subway station." I am pretty sure that the building will connect to Suburban station, but are they also planning on finally building a station for the MFL at 18th or 19th Street?
Here is the full article: http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7040

Hell ya!!!! Finally ritten house won't be fly over country.

[Ninjawho]

Originally Posted by Roadcruiser1

I posted this on the building's thread, but........

• Video Link

The more I think about it, the more I think I kinda get what Foster is trying to do. This is basically a big riff on 30 Rock. The center spire is an echo of the straight on profile of The Plaza. I think I appreciate it more in that light.

I wish it complimented the skyline better. It's too symmetrical with the Comcast Tower.

Still, incredibly exciting for the city.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Either I missed this amid the excitement of the Comcast tower announcement, or this article got something wrong. But according to the Architect's Newspaper this morning, the new building will be connecting to a "new" SEPTA subway station: "The stacked design culminates in an illuminated beacon that will become the new focal point in the city skyline. At ground level, the block-long lobby will include restaurants and retail and connect to a new SEPTA subway station." I am pretty sure that the building will connect to Suburban station, but are they also planning on finally building a station for the MFL at 18th or 19th Street?
Here is the full article: http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7040

No. That would cost at least several hundred million more. The present trolley and Market Frankford line tunnel would have to be completely restructured for a distance of a few blocks in order to put in platforms for the Market Frankford line anywhere near there.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

No. That would cost at least several hundred million more. The present trolley and Market Frankford line tunnel would have to be completely restructured for a distance of a few blocks in order to put in platforms for the Market Frankford line anywhere near there.

that's all true, but do you know for a fact that they're not doing it? I doubt it myself, but I'm trying to get in touch with the article's author to see where that nugget came from. I'm sure it's a mistake, but I don't want to speculate either way.

[JawKneeQuest]

Originally Posted by ILovePhilly

It looks like its evoking 1616 Walnut (which is going by The Icon now)

Very Art Deco, reminds me a lot of the former WCAU (Now Art Institute) Building

[ILovePhilly]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

that's all true, but do you know for a fact that they're not doing it? I doubt it myself, but I'm trying to get in touch with the article's author to see where that nugget came from. I'm sure it's a mistake, but I don't want to speculate either way.

They can't be upgrading any trolley infrastructure until they are ready to buy $800 million worth of new trolley cars and do $500 million in station rehabs. The trolley cars are not ADA compliant and the system in running on a grandfathered status. Any substantial changes to trolley infrastructure triggers the termination of the ADA waiver and all the underground stations would need to be rebuilt and all the trolleys replaced. They ***might*** be connecting to the 19th Street trolley station with a tunnel but the $40 million from the city and state is just for extending the suburban station concourse so unless they plan to get money from SEPTA or spend their own cash there aren't any new subway/trolley stations or station connections happening.

[PhiLaw]

1) I like the height. I know some of you on here will gripe about the height, but I think this is Comcast's way of giving a nod to the city as a whole. When the Liberty buildings were built they were beautiful, but it obfuscated most of the other buildings that reflected center city's building density. This building is just the right height - tall enough to make a statement in the City (and country, for that matter), but not too tall as to overshadow the city's other points of prominence.

2) I like the design. From the Art Museum angle it almost looks like two buildings stuck against each other - the spire/core being one structure and the symmetrical part another. It adds more horizontal depth to the skyline than it otherwise might.

3) The impact will be big. This will also help University City, as feeder businesses will inevitably look to benefit from Comcast's intellectual infrastructure and capital. Tons of temporary jobs, many permanent jobs, etc.

All in all, I'm very excited about this. So much so that I can live with the "pipes to nowhere" we'll here about very soon.

[MikeNigh]

At this rate philly will have a whole walkable underground.

[theSisko]

Originally Posted by PhiLaw

1) I like the height. I know some of you on here will gripe about the height, but I think this is Comcast's way of giving a nod to the city as a whole. When the Liberty buildings were built they were beautiful, but it obfuscated most of the other buildings that reflected center city's building density. This building is just the right height - tall enough to make a statement in the City (and country, for that matter), but not too tall as to overshadow the city's other points of prominence.

2) I like the design. From the Art Museum angle it almost looks like two buildings stuck against each other - the spire/core being one structure and the symmetrical part another. It adds more horizontal depth to the skyline than it otherwise might.

3) The impact will be big. This will also help University City, as feeder businesses will inevitably look to benefit from Comcast's intellectual infrastructure and capital. Tons of temporary jobs, many permanent jobs, etc.

All in all, I'm very excited about this. So much so that I can live with the "pipes to nowhere" we'll here about very soon.

Good point Phillaw regarding the height. Comcast is also reinventing itself from a cable company to a software media comglomerate. They want to develop new products that will bring content along with it and because of that, needs the engineers and programmers alike......a Microsoft of the East if you will. By attempting this it can have a dual effect on Philadelphia: First, the obvious with the enhanced media presence that Comcast brings with NBC and Telemundo (don't underestimate Telemundo's presence), and the "Silicon Valley East" that Brian Roberts refers to in competing with Google and Apple suburban campuses. If they somehow assist in bringing more start ups in this area of expertise to the city, along with what's going on with the Science Center expanding with their startups and you have a full-fledge new growing industry for Philadelphia to embrace. That in the long run can bring a couple 600-700' office towers to the skyline as these new startups expand.

[mhays]

This is awesome for Philly. Maybe a taller skyline will help the city get its deserved publicity and tourism.

I'm amazed at how quickly it's starting. Where I'm from, public design review starts at least a year in advance, with giant pdfs publicly available. (Which forces designers to think about exteriors and plantings at the concept design stage rather than much later, when they only have vague ideas about theoretically-earlier stuff like steel vs. concrete for example.)

[Mappy]

Originally Posted by theSisko

Good point Phillaw regarding the height. Comcast is also reinventing itself from a cable company to a software media comglomerate. They want to develop new products that will bring content along with it and because of that, needs the engineers and programmers alike......a Microsoft of the East if you will...

I was hoping that their idea was to build 1280000sqft of IT office space so they could finally open a customer service department

[Mappy]

Originally Posted by mhays

This is awesome for Philly. Maybe a taller skyline will help the city get its deserved publicity and tourism.

I'm amazed at how quickly it's starting. Where I'm from, public design review starts at least a year in advance, with giant pdfs publicly available. (Which forces designers to think about exteriors and plantings at the concept design stage rather than much later, when they only have vague ideas about theoretically-earlier stuff like steel vs. concrete for example.)

This one building wont really have that kind of impact by itself... The Penns Landing redesign concept, and what (if anything) happens at Market East are by far the most important impending developments regarding tourism and public space experience that will effect Philly's identity/perception.

[skyscraper]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Either I missed this amid the excitement of the Comcast tower announcement, or this article got something wrong. But according to the Architect's Newspaper this morning, the new building will be connecting to a "new" SEPTA subway station: "The stacked design culminates in an illuminated beacon that will become the new focal point in the city skyline. At ground level, the block-long lobby will include restaurants and retail and connect to a new SEPTA subway station." I am pretty sure that the building will connect to Suburban station, but are they also planning on finally building a station for the MFL at 18th or 19th Street?
Here is the full article: http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=7040

Update: I just heard from the author of this article, and there will be no new subway station. He will post a correction.

[therealdawk]

I was listening to David Cohen on The Chris Stigall Show this morning. Here is a link to the podcast in case you missed it. A couple of points that jumped out at me:

1) There won't be an official observation deck but the public is welcome to ride the glass elevators going up to the 59th floor (where the restaurant is) and enjoy the view for free.

2) Cohen reads message boards! He mentioned reading the comments section of Philly.com and other sites that have a comments section to gauge public reaction to this. He went so far as to even recite some of the exchanges between those who were for the project and the few who were against. He mentions this within the last few minutes of the linked interview.

He also breaks down a lot of the numbers regarding the grants and economic impact.

[McBane]

Originally Posted by theSisko

If they somehow assist in bringing more start ups in this area of expertise to the city, along with what's going on with the Science Center expanding with their startups and you have a full-fledge new growing industry for Philadelphia to embrace. That in the long run can bring a couple 600-700' office towers to the skyline as these new startups expand.

I agree. I hope that Comcast grows to the point where it creates its own supporting mini economy, much the way that Wal-Mart has brought tons of ancillary business/satellite offices into Bentonville, AR.

Of course, the elephant in the room is our tax structure. Don't want to beat a dead horse but until it's overhauled, companies will find a way to avoid Philadelphia. It is slowly changing but it needs to accelerate. I hope I didn't open a can of worms - discussing the new Comcast Center is way more exciting than rehashing business taxes for the umpteenth time.

[Philly-Drew]

I absolutely love this building, and what it stands for. The economic opportunities that this concept will bring will be fun to watch. It is certainly the start of something new, and there is no saying how big could get.

Hats off to Comcast for being so bold, here in Philadelphia!