PHILADELPHIA | 10 Rittenhouse Square | 390 FT / 119 M | 33 FLOORS

Swinefeld · #1 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 3:38 PM**

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.

looper121 · #2 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 4:13 PM**

Anyone been down there lately? Is the Row completely gone now?

giovanni sasso · #3 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 4:16 PM**

swiney ol' boy, you are a master of the outline and well-placed bold. a formidable job indeed.

go 10 rittenhouse go!

Capsule F · #4 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 4:42 PM**

No the row isnt compltely gone, its taking a little bit for some reason, I was just there yesterday.

omp835 · #5 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 4:45 PM**

I agree w/ Sasso. All the construction threads should follow this format.

I'm going to love to see this building go up because,to me, it represents common sense prevailing in a city that ,sadly, many times, lacks any.

williamphilapa · #6 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 9:00 PM**

double post

williamphilapa · #7 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 9:02 PM**

Great looking into page.

Anyone have any night renderings? Looking to see for a lighting scheme atop....I highly doubt that there will be any though.

Swinefeld · #8 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 9:39 PM**

*Update*

As of today, the building in the far left of this picture was being demolished.

volguus zildrohar · #9 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 10:41 PM**

It's a go! It's a go! It's a go!

This is turning into a banner year for local skyscraper geeks. We spent 2005 talking about these projects and now we'll spend 2006 watching them built.

What a time we live in.

It seems like I'm amending The Rundown every other day now.

PhillyRising · #10 Posted **Jan 26, 2006, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by volguus zildrohar

It's a go! It's a go! It's a go!

This is turning into a banner year for local skyscraper geeks. We spent 2005 talking about these projects and now we'll spend 2006 watching them built.

What a time we live in.

It seems like I'm amending The Rundown every other day now.

All of this was a matter of time...Philadelphia's location is too good for the city to stay down forever......

We're moving on up....to a deluxe skyline...in the sky...OOOOO we're moving up...we're finally getting piece of the piieeeeee!

bryson662001 · #11 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 1:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyNation

All of this was a matter of time...Philadelphia's location is too good for the city to stay down forever......

We're moving on up....to a deluxe skyline...in the sky...OOOOO we're moving up...we're finally getting piece of the piieeeeee!

PhillyNation, you are always so negative on Philly you must be a "native Philadelphian", yes? Only a native would say such a thing.

FlyersFan118 · #12 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 2:37 AM**

Yay...a thread. Good job, swinester.

colemonkee · #13 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 6:26 AM**

It's funny no one's mentioned that Philly will be getting two Robert A.M. Stern buildings at the same time.

The Cheat · #14 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 7:36 AM**

To be sure, the lots in blue are the only lots that will be part of 10 Rittenhouse?

It's a bit difficult to draw a building that's L-shaped and sandwiched (infilled) between existing buildings. Though I could just do the part at 18th & Sansom. So I'll probably do something quick and simple and count on it to need updating later.

The Cheat · #15 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 1:26 PM**

tranceclubbinphilly · #16 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 1:37 PM**

just a side note: Does anyone else get tripped out at looking at those satelite pictures sometimes, with some skyscrapers leaning one way and others leaning the opposite right next to one another.

Swinefeld · #17 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 1:44 PM**

^^ Awesome! Great job, Cheat! Very well annotated too. That really puts it into perspective.

Imagine. Someone wanting to put a skyscraper there.

omp835 · #18 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

It's funny no one's mentioned that Philly will be getting two Robert A.M. Stern buildings at the same time.

Actually, we're getting more than 2 A.M. Stern buildings. He's also the master planner for the redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and has designed the first spec office building on that site. Not to mention the smaller office building that would be built next to comcast center if the demand is there.

volguus zildrohar · #19 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 3:58 PM**

I'm still holding out for our second SOM design. Tall one, anyways.

PhillyRising · #20 Posted **Jan 27, 2006, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryson662001

PhillyNation, you are always so negative on Philly you must be a "native Philadelphian", yes? Only a native would say such a thing.

LOL! I am one of Philly's biggest fans. You will have to pry me away from the region....I'm never leaving!