Results tagged “leed”

If you are looking for a fun (and free!) attraction in the historic section of the city, be sure to check out the recently opened museum at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Does anything with the word "chemical" in it scare you away as being a bit too brainy? Well don't let it, because CHF has done a marvelous job of creating its permanent exhibition Making Modernity, which includes "scientific instruments and apparatus, rare books, fine art, and the personal papers of prominent scientists. Topics range from alchemy, synthetics, and the chemical-instrument revolution to chemistry education, electrochemistry, chemistry sets, and the science of color." Trust us, it's cool to see the evolution of modern technology as exhibited through the installations of Making Modernity. The gorgeous main hall features an interactive tower screen that will have you learning more about the periodic table than you ever thought you would again after tenth grade chem class.

So says the building's website, and it's right.



Just a few hours ago, phillyskyline.com broke news of a supertall skyscraper proposal for the property bounded by 18th, 19th, Arch, and Cuthbert Streets (currently a surface parking lot). At 1500 feet, the American Commerce Center would dwarf Philly's recently-crowned king, the Comcast Center (975 ft), and if completed today, would stand as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and fourth-tallest building in the world. All this in little-old-Philadelphia, which felt guilty about looking down on William Penn's hat just 20 years ago.

And although the height is impressive enough, the finer details of this project as initially released make it difficult to criticize. A guiding principle of the developer, Walnut Street Capital, is to embrace the city at the street level. So while the spire will split the clouds overhead, pedestrians on the street will be able to enjoy several floors of ground-level retail. Once they enter the building, two publicly-accessible gardens await.

This mixed-use project also features a 26-story hotel in addition to the 63-story office tower. Those making it past the three-story hotel lobby will find an enormous low-rooftop garden for hotel guests, allowing them to gaze north, east, or south over the city from 473 feet.

The American Commerce Center will be constructed with a US Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification in mind. This seems to be a positive trend in Philly when considered alongside the green-minded development of the Comcast Center. As a further snub to the environment- and streetscape-damaging automobile, all of the building's unavoidable parking space will be underground. Great credit goes to architects Kohn Pedersen Fox for beautifully executing Walnut Street Capital's vision.

What's not to love? This is a great day for Philadelphia. Check out the official renderings and more information on phillyskyline.com.