PHILADELPHIA | The Mark at Philadelphia | 407 FT | 34 FLOORS

[PHLJD13]

I understand that, as student housing, its residents generally won't care what the exterior looks like. The developer will have no problem charging premium rents from the parents of students clamoring to live in the area's newest tower.

That said, this is likely the ugliest new large-scale development in recent memory and, unfortunately, will probably be tallest and most-prominent building in its immediate area, by far, for the remainder of our lifetimes. At least The Standard is harder to spot from a distance.

[3rd&Brown]

I'm surprised Penn let this go up in this form.

[BroadandMarket]

I just wish the cladding was all black, I think that would have hid the cheapness a little bit. How is this the same group that built Piazza Alta? I guess Post Bros designed that and they just built it?

https://bkvgroup.com/projects/piazza-terminal/

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

I just wish the cladding was all black, I think that would have hid the cheapness a little bit. How is this the same group that built Piazza Alta? I guess Post Bros designed that and they just built it?

https://bkvgroup.com/projects/piazza-terminal/

BKV is the architect.

The developer is Landmark Properties.

[reparcsyks]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

I'm surprised Penn let this go up in this form.

You mean the same Penn that just built the bland, soulless garbage at 40th & Walnut?

[Daario]

I've been a longtime lurker on here ever since my interest in planning and development began while I was in high school. I'm now getting my Master's in City Planning at Penn, and am sitting at the ground floor cafe on 3535 Market looking at this development go up. It's ugly for sure, but to be honest it's not *as* bad as everyone is making it out to be. It's kinda falling into the "so ugly it's ok looking" category.

[bdurk]

Originally Posted by Daario

I've been a longtime lurker on here ever since my interest in planning and development began while I was in high school. I'm now getting my Master's in City Planning at Penn, and am sitting at the ground floor cafe on 3535 Market looking at this development go up. It's ugly for sure, but to be honest it's not *as* bad as everyone is making it out to be. It's kinda falling into the "so ugly it's ok looking" category.

My take on this is somewhat irrelevant since I never spend any time in West Philly but imo I like this building. I think it adds good height to West Philly, especially the part of West Philly it's in, and no one will be able to see the blue from a distance. Up close it may look a little ugly, but I probably won't ever see it up close

[William Van Alen]

Originally Posted by Daario

I've been a longtime lurker on here ever since my interest in planning and development began while I was in high school. I'm now getting my Master's in City Planning at Penn, and am sitting at the ground floor cafe on 3535 Market looking at this development go up. It's ugly for sure, but to be honest it's not *as* bad as everyone is making it out to be. It's kinda falling into the "so ugly it's ok looking" category.

My friend who's a city planner in Pittsburgh often uses the term "ugly hot" to describe Pittsburgh buildings/neighborhoods.

Congrats on your degree! Penn has a great program - I wanted to go for undergrad, but didn't get in. Then initially wanted to go for a Master's but life took me in a different direction. Alas, I'm glad somebody gets to do it lol

[El Duderino]

Originally Posted by Daario

I've been a longtime lurker on here ever since my interest in planning and development began while I was in high school. I'm now getting my Master's in City Planning at Penn, and am sitting at the ground floor cafe on 3535 Market looking at this development go up. It's ugly for sure, but to be honest it's not *as* bad as everyone is making it out to be. It's kinda falling into the "so ugly it's ok looking" category.

Heck yeah - that's awesome that you turned your passion into something permanent.

And I agree with your take on this one. I'd say this is aggressively average.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by Daario

It's kinda falling into the "so ugly it's ok looking" category.

Originally Posted by El Duderino

I'd say this is aggressively average.

Two ways I'm often described.

[Justin7]

Chiming in with my weird take. I hate it but the blue is the best part.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

This is... Really massive in person. Definitely leaving a Mark.

[Arch+Eng]

Just drove past this on Friday. It didn't look THAT bad.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by Arch+Eng

Just drove past this on Friday. It didn't look THAT bad.

Oh come on. It's easily the worst new building in the entire city.

It looks like a federal prison.

[Arch+Eng]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

Oh come on. It's easily the worst new building in the entire city.

It looks like a federal prison.

Should we start calling this the SkidMark?

[gjrip]

Very pleased that this project is all the way across the city from me, out of view.

[Urbanthusiat]

Not totally surprising this is VE’d to hell, this is commodity housing, basically. Penn and Drexel will always be a draw to a number of people that are only going to live in UCity for a couple of years. They don’t care about the outside, they want a “luxury” apartment with amenities close to campus. It what it is. Overall I think it’s still a net positive development. But yeah, it’s not a looker. Very decent infill that’ll look better when it’s done.

[TK2001]

The Mark and CHOP New Patient Tower by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Can be seen from Riverwinds in New Jersey! And definitely from Westville, NJ...which I haven't stopped by for a bit. I'll return

[wally]

If the building design wasn't bad enough, a construction accident also damaged the neighboring Unilu church earlier this week:

[Arch+Eng]

Originally Posted by wally

If the building design wasn't bad enough. It a construction accident also damaged the neighboring Unilu church earlier this week:

They value engineered the construction workers too