Profile

Society Hill

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Completed 1964

Lead Designer: I. M. Pei

Residential tower and townhouse development in an urban renewal area punctuated by historic landmarks
 

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This project was undertaken as part of a master plan for Washington Square East: an inner city redevelopment interspersed with buildings of national and architectural importance. The challenge was to enhance the character of the low-rise landmarks, while establishing high residential density at the Delaware River's edge.

In solution, clusters of 3-story townhouses were situated amid the historic brick buildings, and integrated through scale, massing and materials. Four of the clusters are organized around a parking court with a focal sculpture by Gaston Lachaise that was installed in a pioneering application of the "1% for Art" program. A fifth townhouse cluster was subsequently erected.

With low-rise massing thus achieved, 720 residential units were constructed in three 31-story towers closer to the river where, redefining the skyline, they serve as buffers to an elevated expressway. Each of the towers is located on a different axis around a central green and sculpture court, each placed wide enough apart to maximize rather than obscure significant view corridors. The towers comprise an early example of high-rise cast-in-place architectural concrete construction. Integrally combining structure, window openings, and interior and exterior finishes within a single system, they produce a facade that is distinctive in itself yet responsive to the scale, character and topography of the unique location.

Major Components

Three 31-story towers (each 285,500 s/f  + 82,000 s/f underground parking) comprising 720 apartments (240 each tower); 3,000 s/f 3-story townhouses (37) in 5 clusters + surface parking; landscaped courtyards with monumental sculpture by Gaston Lachaise and Leonard Baskin.

Awards

I. M. Pei & Associates services

Master Planning; Architectural Services; Interior Design of public spaces

Associate Architect

Wright, Andrade, Amerita & Gane, Philadelphia, PA (Townhouses)

Structural

Severud-Elstad-Krueger Associates, New York, NY 

Mechanical / Electrical

Jaros Baum & Bolles, New York, NY (Towers) and
George C. Lewis & Associates, Philadelphia (Townhouses)

Landscape / Plaza

Zion and Breen, New York, NY

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