Profile

Commerce Square

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phase I completed 1988
Phase II completed 1993

Twin tower with public courtyard, retail and parking
 

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Twin 40-story office towers frame the richly landscaped urban space that gives this 2.2 million-s/f center-city project its name. With floor plates ranging from 15,000 s/f at the top to 33,000 s/f at the base, the towers are shaped in such a way as to create a distinctive identity on the skyline while affirming the primacy of public space and public life at street level.

The granite-paved courtyard that is the heart of Commerce Square was designed in collaboration with the landscape architect Laurie Olin. A lively fountain framed by seasonal plantings occupies the center of this sun-filled plaza, which is surrounded by shops and restaurants that help to make it a space much used and enjoyed — a contemporary contribution to the tradition of public squares initiated by William Penn's great plan.

Major Components

1.85 million s/f offices on 39 floors; 92,000 s/f lobby/retail; 30,000 s/f courtyard and plaza; 175,000 s/f underground parking for 625 cars

Pei Cobb Freed & Partners services

Master Planning; Architectural Design; Interior Design of public lobbies and IBM Spaces;  coordination with associate architect on construction documents and construction administration

Associate Architect

Ballinger, Philadelphia, PA (Contract Documents / Administration)

Structural

CBM Engineers, Inc., Houston, TX

Mechanical

Cosentini Associates LLP, New York, NY

Landscape

Hanna/Olin, Ltd., Philadelphia, PA

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