10 Rittenhouse Square
Official Website: 10 Rittenhouse Square.
Location: Walnut St, north to Sansom St and east to 18th, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Usage: Condominium with over 500,000 sf of residential space with ground-level retail.
Height: 390' (118.9 meters)
Floors: 33
Architects: Robert A.M. Stern Architects
•
Senior Partner and Lead Designer: Robert A.M. Stern
Development Team: ARCWheeler Group (joint venture)
• ARC Properties Inc.
• Wheeler Brothers Holdings, LLC
Residents Architects: Ismael Leyva Architects P.C.
Architect-of-Record: Polatnick Zacharjasz Architects, LLC
Construction Consultant: Tishman Construction Corporation of Pennsylvania
Estimated Cost: $140,000,000
Units: 140 units, priced to over $3,000,000
Completion: 2008
Amenities/Features:
• Spa and salon
• Fitness center
• Sundeck and pool
• 24 hour concierge
• Uniformed doormen
Trivia:
• Rittenhouse Square was renamed for famous Philadelphian David Rittenhouse (1732-96).
• First luxury-class condominium development to be built on Rittenhouse Square in 25 years.
Comments: It was a long hard battle, but it's finally here.
Renderings
Exterior renderings
Interior renderings
Here's the story...
This project was first proposed way back in 1998. It took that long to get to where we are now because of court battles waged by a local group called SOS (Save Our Square) based on historical preservation and zoning issues. Efforts to incorporate the buildings into the final design (a facadectomy) proved to be too much of a financial burden for the developer, so demolition of the buildings was the only feasible solution. The condominium will require the demolition of two buildings on Sansom St. The project will, however, incorporate the façade of the c. 1900 Beaux-Arts style Rittenhouse Club (
Newman, Woodman and Harris) at 1811 Walnut St.
Those of you who have been visiting the Philly IV forum recently know that there has been some passionate arguments both pro and con regarding this project. Those opposed to the tower, mainly Hal and Jayfar, had many sympathizers in the Philly media, especially the free weeklies. Many articles and even a short documentary were produced to try to halt the demolition of the four rowhomes. Whatever their reasons, the anti-tower crowd had their case heard in court and eventually lost.
"Rindelaub's Row"
"Rindelaub's Row" was the name dubbed to the four vernacular buildings standing in the way of 10 Rittenhouse. It was named for Rindelaub's Bakery & Cafe, located at 128 S 18th St from 1938 to 2000. Lombardi's Pizza, Moos One, and Rittenhouse Sports Specialties finished out the block. The buildings (originally five) were built in the 1840s when Rittenhouse Square (formerly Southwest Square) was a remote outpost. One of the five was removed to make a garden for the 1898 Beaux-Arts style Alexander Van Rensslaer Residence (
Peabody and Stearns) at 1801 Walnut St, which now houses an Anthropology store. The Van Rensslaer building and the Alison Building at 1809 Walnut will be unaffected by the new tower.
"Rindelaub's Row", September 2005.
"Rindelaub's Row", January 2006
The Rittenhouse Club, September 2005
The Van Rensslaer Mansion, September 2005
Sansom St, Two buildings at left are to be demolished.
"Rindelaub's Row", January 21, 2006. View from Sansom St side.
More to come.