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

[Mr Saturn64]

[Jawnadelphia]

Do you guys like the base?

New vs. Old:

[jsbrook]

The base is clearly inferior to the Ritz. But it will still look very good activated and with the glitz of the finishing touches (including lighting) in the hotel renders.

[mcgrath618]

I appreciate that the base isn’t all glass, but it could use some touching up. I agree that the lighting will probably be killer.

[Londonee]

It's still so bizarre to me that the architects chose identical blue glass to the RATR. The buildings, when viewed from a distance, are indiscernible.

[Knight Hospitaller]

Originally Posted by Londonee

It's still so bizarre to me that the architects chose identical blue glass to the RATR. The buildings, when viewed from a distance, are indiscernible.

At least it has a giant concrete wall to make it distinguishable when viewed from the north.

[Jawnadelphia]

From Lincoln Square, S. Broad:


https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw7emTlDUfu/

[BadHaj]

They managed to make a brand new hotel look dated before it's even open...nice job W.

[Plokoon11]

Yeah I'm starting to feel it looks a bit ugly. Well in that above shot at least.

[mcgrath618]

I think it's gorgeous, save the north side.

I think we should reserve any judgements until completion.

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by Plokoon11

Yeah I'm starting to feel it looks a bit ugly. Well in that above shot at least.

Honestly, it's tough for me to tell where it ends and RATR begins - their lines are sooo blurred together.

I think it's kind of ironic given the years of infighting (before Lenfest took over the project) between the two property owners about who could build what and when (google it if you're too young to remember) that in the end they basically ended up with mirror image buildings.

Kling's City Center Tower was always the coolest proposal: https://books.google.com/books?id=--...0tower&f=false

Kling who built all the Penn Center monstrosities really could have redeemed himself if that one went up.

[Philly-Drew]

Imo, the W looks fantastic (from 3 sides), not dated at all. I like the way the crown is shaping up with the multilevel projections. It’s very cool. The heavy use of stone on the base gives it a sense of permanence.

Regarding the blue glass and the similarity with the RATR, I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, but still wonder why they chose a color so similar but I do like the dark blue..

The only thing that I dislike is the concrete wall going down the North side. I think the designers/developers dropped the ball here and did an injustice so close to one of our most photographed landmarks in the city.

Of course it’s much better than the Old Meridian tower which sat like a burnt cinder right next to City Hall (where RATR is today) for most of the 1990s.


For those of you who don’t remember the Meridian, it has quite the tragic story.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

I think it's gorgeous, save the north side.

I think we should reserve any judgements until completion.

#savethenorthside

[PhillyRising]

Originally Posted by Philly-Drew

Imo, the W looks fantastic (from 3 sides), not dated at all. I like the way the crown is shaping up with the multilevel projections. It’s very cool. The heavy use of stone on the base gives it a sense of permanence.

Regarding the blue glass and the similarity with the RATR, I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, but still wonder why they chose a color so similar but I do like the dark blue..

The only thing that I dislike is the concrete wall going down the North side. I think the designers/developers dropped the ball here and did an injustice so close to one of our most photographed landmarks in the city.

Of course it’s much better than the Old Meridian tower which sat like a burnt cinder right next to City Hall (where RATR is today) for most of the 1990s.


For those of you who don’t remember the Meridian, it has quite the tragic story.

It was tragic with the loss of life and then Philadelphia was home to tallest boarded up building in the world for the next 8 years. It's kind of disappointing that it's been 28 years since the fire and we are just now finishing the rebuild of the block that sat derelict for 8 years after the fire.

My only "complaint" of the W tower is the use of the blue glass. I would have liked something to contract the Ritz Carlton tower. I mean...I think blue glass towers in Philadelphia is now kind of played out. I know as a kid when Philadelphia had no glass towers how I wanted to see one and was so excited when the PNC Tower on West Market went up in the early 80's....but now enough is enough.

[Kfmcshan]

Before and After: How Graphic Design Interventions Enhance Built Architecture

Saw this article and thought about the W's blank north wall. Link to article with some more examples

[Jawnadelphia]

[ironhead401]

Tower Crane scheduled to start coming down next week.

[mcgrath618]

Can't wait for this lighting scheme

[Jawnadelphia]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3Xu-ijwbz/

[ironhead401]

Crane takedown got canceled.

City denied the permits