Click on the pictures to get a larger sized one!



Above left: downtown Philadelphia seen from the Loews Philadelphia Hotel,
with the city's three tallest buildings rising above:
Two Liberty Place (258m/848f, 58 stories, 1990), One Liberty Place (288m/945f, 61 stories, 1987),
and Mellon bank Center (241m/792f, 54 stories, 1990).
Above middle: another skyline view from South Street Bridge.
Above right: a skyline view from Spring Garden Street with Schuylkill River.


Above: five different pictures of G. Fred DiBona, Jr. Building (191m/625f, 45 stories, 1990).
Initial plans had a similar second tower, but this one was never built.


Above: One and Two Commerce Square (both: 172m/565f, 41 stories, 1987 (One) and 1992 (Two).
One Commerce Square is depicted on all five pictures. Two Commerce Square is the building behind One,
on the far left and far right picture.


Above left and middle: three different views of Philadelphia's City Hall. It's America's largest working municipal building.
Until 1908, it reigned as the tallest building in the U.S.A., aided by the 37-foot Statue of William Penn on top.
The building has an observation deck, which gives you a commanding view of the city.
The building was based on the design of the Louvre in Paris. Work on it began in 1871;
when it was completed in 1901, its costs exceeded US$24 million.
The building is still the 8th tallest building of Philadelphia with a height of 167m/548f (9 stories).
Above right: 1818 Market Street (152m/500f, 40 stories, 1972).


Above left and middle: three pictures of The St. James (152m/498f, 45 stories, 2004).
Philadelphia's tallest residential building.
Rental prices range from US$ 1,495 (studio) to US$7,000 (three bedrooms).
Above middle right: and the tallest hotel: Loews Philadelphia Hotel (150m/492f, 36 stories, 1932).
The building was the first modern skyscraper in the US when completed in 1932.
It was in use as a (PSFS) bank office building for a very long time, before being converted into a hotel in 2000.
Above right: PNC Bank Building (150m/491f, 40 stories, 1983).


Above: Philadelphia's latest addition to its skyline: Cira Centre (132m/434f, 28 stories, 2005).
It's currently the tallest building west of Schuylkill River and outside of the city centre.
The building, designed by the team of Cesar Pelli, looks different from every angle
as can be seen on the five different pictures above.


Above left and middle: Centre Square II (149m/490f, 40 stories, 1973) and I (127m/417f, 32 stories, 1973)
Above middle right: Five Penn Center (149m/490f, 36 stories, 1970).
Above right: One South Broad (144m/472f, 28 stories, 1932).


Above left: Two Logan Square (133m/435f, 35 stories, 1987), with Bell Atlantic Tower (225m/739f) behind it.
Above middle left and middle: Aramark Tower (126m/412f, 32 stories, 1984).
Above middle right: Peco Building (117m/384f, 25 stories, 1970).
Above right: 2400 Chestnut Apartments (103m/384f, 25 stories, 1979).


Above: another Philadelphia skyline view from South Street Bridge.


Back to page 1 of Philadelphia: click here

A special thanks goes out to Frank; without his help a few shots wouldn't have been possible.


Philadelphia's 10 tallest skyscrapers:
1. ONE LIBERTY PLACE 288m/945m, 61 stories, 1987
2. TWO LIBERTY PLACE 258m/848f, 58 stories, 1990
3. MELLON BANK CENTER 241m/792f, 54 stories, 1990
4. BELL ATLANTIC TOWER 225m/739f, 55 stories, 1991
5. G. FRED DIBONA, JR. BUILDING 191m/625f, 45 stories, 1990
6. TWO COMMERCE SQUARE 172m/565f, 41 stories, 1992
7. ONE COMMERCE SQUARE 172m/565f, 41 stories, 1987
8. PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL 167m/548f, 9 stories, 1901
9. 1818 MARKET STREET 152m/500f, 40 stories, 1974
10. THE SAINT JAMES 152m/498f, 45 stories, 2004

The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information are courtesy of
EMPORIS.COM, one of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings.

All pictures copyright (c) 2005 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.

Home