Philadelphia 2035 (Penn: theatre, gentrification, ethnic)

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by rotodome

Not the end of the world, and certainly could be worse, but just while I'm in 'architecture critic' mode, let me just say that I haaaate the curve in the Cira South facade. I think it kills the whole ensemble.

It looks a little more muted in the more recent renders, and the EVO is significantly different










remaining cautiously optomistic that will look pretty good overall

[kidphilly]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Traditonally Philly has been a very conservative city when it comes to architecture. I think the PSFS building (now Loew's Hotel) was an exception. Perhaps it's best that we do not follow the examples of Los Angeles or Miami in highrise building design. On the other hand, it would be nice to see one very innovative and "cutting edge" building in the skyline.

Since I follow such websites as Emporis, SkyscraperPage, and SkyscraperCity I will concede that when the Comcast Center was built it received rave reviews from all over the world.

Yeah would love to see soemthing more innovative east of Broad but is wishful thinking. BTW I love the PSFS building, truly has stood the test of time

I believe it may be older than the ESB, yet to me still looks fresher - not to take anything away from the ESB which is purely a strong building in all regards including visual precense.

to me the PSFS today looks fresher than the Aramark building - which consequently was really the skyscraper that when being constructing got me excited about tall buildings as kid - probably just timing

[Cnote11]

The PSFS building is great and the Comcast Center is absolutely gorgeous. There are some pretty ugly buildings around Philadelphia without any character whatsoever... so sometimes I'd rather them take a chance.

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

It looks a little more muted in the more recent renders, and the EVO is significantly different










remaining cautiously optomistic that will look pretty good overall

You're right, that does look a bit better than before.

[drive carephilly]

How big is that friggin' parking garage?

It blows my mind that in 2013 you can get away with building that many parking spaces without having to do an EIS.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by drive carephilly

How big is that friggin' parking garage?

It blows my mind that in 2013 you can get away with building that many parking spaces without having to do an EIS.

Yeah - I don't get why that garage exists, and moreso, I don't get why it exists in such a prominent spot, right on the waterfront. I get that people are excited about these new buildings, and it's neat to watch these buildings pop up, but everytime I'm in this area, I just can't help thinking that this parking garage, existing at all, let alone exactly where it does - with the same prominence as any other building - says "we're not even going to try to make this look nice."

Add on top of that that it's one block from the regional rail, Amtrak, trolleys, the Market Frankford Line, and many buses, and that they try to greenwash by selling their "rooftop park on a parking garage" as environmentally friendly - and it's even more baffling, since the obviously environmentally friendly thing to do would be to not building a 2500 parking garage next to a transit hub in a major city.

It's a big disappointment that it even exists, this is an obvious TOD, and it's a travesty that there was no attempt to maintain some type of urban integrity by "hiding" it. And in 10 years that'll be what everyone else says to.

[maf763]

On a more modest note, the renovation of the Nugent Building in Germantown as senior housing looks beautiful, at least from the outside. Along with the recently renovated place next door that was equally disheveled, it's a nice facelift for that part of the neighborhood.

Nugent Senior Apartments

[Lenses & Lights.]

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Not sure there will ever take place but this includes Cira 2 in the render - Summersm again to get the credit (Old version of Evo and similar version to the new FMC tower)

Changing Skyline: For a West Schuylkill site, time to bridge its moat

[MikeNigh]

They should do some sort of display or something on the parking lot like they did for cira 1.

[kidphilly]

After 50 years, Comcast still looks forward - Philly.com