PHILADELPHIA | Roberts Center for Pediatric Research | 375 FT | 23 FLOORS

[Insoluble]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

Credit to Cubanchris.
A lot of good information on what they see this project becoming.

The towers themselves look nice, but I'm still horribly disappointed by the overall superblock design. I mean do they really need to put in a driveway paralleling Schuylkill Ave? Pitiful.

[summersm343]

Here are some of the renderings.

Looks like the first phase of construction will start in October of next year.

The first tower also looks like it will be about 380 feet.

[MikeNigh]

That's going to be awesome coming into south st.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Here are some of the renderings.

Looks like the first phase of construction will start in October of next year.

The first tower also looks like it will be about 380 feet.

Interesting how development will span between University City and Center City along two different axes, with Penn Park in between. I know that in some of the original planning for the Penn Connects program, there was to be a pedestrian bridge across the Schuylkill River that essentially would have extended Penn's Locust Walk into Center City, and bisected the triangle defined by those two axes. Now wouldn't THAT be a terrific vantage point to take in all of this new development (not to mention incredibly cool)?

[SJPhillyBoy]

Originally Posted by EastSideHBG

Changing Skyline: Details still fuzzy on Children's Hospital's research center

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/home/20...P0qP6XlJoDY.99

I agree with Inga that this a crucial location on the river and that the river interaction with the city should be maximized for future generations.

[SJPhillyBoy]

The Philly.com Inga Saffron article also states:

In June, Children's expects to break ground on a 375-foot tower, a free-standing garage, a public park, and a waterfront promenade,

So this summer we get to start watching another high tech modern tower start to go up, further expanding the skyscraper boundaries of Center City.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by SJPhillyBoy

I agree with Inga that this a crucial location on the river and that the river interaction with the city should be maximized for future generations.

I agree. The river trail will be there, but I think many want to see more, as in some kind of establishment for FOOD + DRINK. Its a great location to take in the river and city views. They have the right idea with the park, but hopefully they take it a step further.

CHOP is usually very good with PR, hopefully they are somewhat receptive with the base.

In no way should they lower the height, if anything go bigger.

[summersm343]

Looks like the tallest building is in fact 22 floors, 375 feet.

[summersm343]

New Renderings of the first tower (Phase 1)- 700 Schuylkill Ave. 23 floors- 375 feet. Set to break ground this summer.



















http://www.phila.gov/CityPlanning/pr...0Avenue_v2.pdf

[Pennsgrant]

Tower 1 is sharp, some great towers going up along the Schuylkill. Cira,Evo,FMC,CHOP,Dranoffs riverside tower.

Whats' the deal with that old AT+T building on South St that looks like its about 50 years old ? Is that currently being used or is it vacant? I never see any activity around it and looks to be in a prime location for re-use(hopefully a tear-down/re-use).

Looks like the River trail is going to get another extension to the southern tip of this new CHOP complex.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

Tower 1 is sharp, some great towers going up along the Schuylkill. Cira,Evo,FMC,CHOP,Dranoffs riverside tower.

Whats' the deal with that old AT+T building on South St that looks like its about 50 years old ? Is that currently being used or is it vacant? I never see any activity around it and looks to be in a prime location for re-use(hopefully a tear-down/re-use).

Looks like the River trail is going to get another extension to the southern tip of this new CHOP complex.

Unfortunately, it is still being used by AT&T. It is downright ugly. I would love to see it demo'd and redeveloped into several towers... but that probably won't happen.

[mmikeyphilly]

The design for the first tower looks very "corporate". I'm liking it a lot.

Remember, folks coming in from out of town (from the airport) and coming up the Schuylkill Expressway will get to see this building before the "tada" of the full Philly Skyline. Wow, I just thought too...with this on the right, and the FMC Tower on the left..it's just gonna be eye candy from both sides! Nice!

(side note: I usually take 95 North from the Airport myself. But occasionally I've missed the entrance and wind up taking 76..shoot, I did it again! Took the darn wrong road again, but what a nice scenic route)

[mmikeyphilly]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Unfortunately, it is still being used by AT&T. It is downright ugly. I would love to see it demo'd and redeveloped into several towers... but that probably won't happen.

Yes. Summer & Pennsgrant, I totally agree. After you mentioned it, I went back to look at the rendering again, and it really is ugly. I think it is an "operations" center, or something in that order. Probably lots of machinery and wires connecting myriad networks in the corporation. They really should give it a facelift though. My partner works for AT&T, and from the comments I've heard him talking about to other co-workers, I don't think this is a priority in their eyes.

[Pennsgrant]

Originally Posted by mmikeyphilly

The design for the first tower looks very "corporate". I'm liking it a lot.

Remember, folks coming in from out of town (from the airport) and coming up the Schuylkill Expressway will get to see this building before the "tada" of the full Philly Skyline. Wow, I just thought too...with this on the right, and the FMC Tower on the left..it's just gonna be eye candy from both sides! Nice!

You will have to pass this unsightly beast first.

[mmikeyphilly]

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

You will have to pass this unsightly beast first.

Oh Yea, I forgot about those others. But I feel confident that CHOP will make it quite nice. At least they are going for the tallest one to be constructed first. And especially FMC Headquarters Building! I think I like that one the best, so far. And it is a very impressive design. With Evo, I'm gonna wait to pass judgment (not that they care!) But I do like the height and keeping everything in order. The façade (looks) decent from the photos that were posted, but it's all this pre fab materials that projects use. I wish they would be more "original", or creative.

[Philly Fan]

Originally Posted by Pennsgrant

You will have to pass this unsightly beast first.

Let's hope that's just a crappy, low detail rendering (which I suspect it is). It could be that this will look a lot better in real life once the cladding and details, such as they are, are installed. [Fingers crossed. ]

In any event, it's always risky to judge a building based on a rendering, and especially one as lacking in detail as that one.

[Pennsgrant]

Originally Posted by Philly Fan

Let's hope that's just a crappy, low detail rendering (which I suspect it is). It could be that this will look a lot better in real life once the cladding and details, such as they are, are installed. [Fingers crossed. ]

Unless they radically change the design of the pcam extension I don't have any hope. I'm sure this addition is practical and will be a great asset to the hospital complex but this mammoth building is an architectural nightmare.

Thee very best cladding couldn't save this.

[summersm343]

http://hiddencityphila.org/2014/03/t...rowth-of-chop/

Article on this today from Hidden City

[Kidphilly]

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/...facility_.html

[Kidphilly]

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/20...east_bank.html