May 14, 2019
Photo By Foster + Partners
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Developers: Liberty Property Trust/Liberty Property 18th & Arch; Comcast Corporation
Designers: Foster and Partners; Kendall/Heaton Associates
Site Size: 1.4 acres (0.57 ha)
Photo By Foster + Partners
Cross-section of the base of 1800 Arch Street
Located in the heart of Center City in Philadelphia, 1800 Arch Street is a $1.5 billion, 60-story mixed-use tower that is the largest private development project in the history of Pennsylvania. An expansive lobby serves as an indoor public plaza, welcoming visitors with art installations, restaurants, a coffee bar, and outdoor seating. The lobby also provides access to a new, underground concourse, lined with shops and art, connecting commuters and visitors to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Suburban Station.
Photo By Foster + Partners
1800 Arch Street shown in context
The building is home to the Comcast Corporation’s new vertical urban campus, which takes up 100 percent of the tower’s office space. The tower’s facades are animated by panoramic glass lifts and a series of 13 three-story sky gardens, which draw a continuous strand of greenery through the building. The building also features the country’s tallest hotel, whose lobby offers stunning views from the 60th floor. The 1800 Arch Street project uses a chilled beam system to cool the interior and is one of the largest installations of such a system in the United States. The building is aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification for both Core and Shell and Commercial Interiors.
Photo By Foster + Partners
There is greenery dispersed throughout the building, starting in the lobby.
The owner also voluntarily committed to achieving meaningful participation by minority-, women-, veteran-, and disabled-owned businesses in the economic activity generated by the building. The project has generated more than 20,000 temporary jobs and $2.75 billion in economic activity within the commonwealth. It is estimated that the project will also produce $30.7 million in annual commonwealth tax revenues and $21.5 million in annual city tax revenues.
Photo By Foster + Partners
The lobby of 1800 Arch Street features greenery and public art, which are visible from the street through glass panels that form the lobby’s facade.