| American Commerce Center | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Status | Never built |
| Type | Hotel / Office/ Park/ Garden/ Retail [1] |
| Location | 1800 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA, USA |
| Coordinates | |
| Cost | USD $800,000,000[2] |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 1,510 ft (460 m)[3][4] |
| Roof | 1,210 ft (369 m)[3] |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | Office tower: 63, Hotel: 26[3][4] |
| Floor area | 2,200,000 sq ft (200,000 m2)[2] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kohn Pedersen Fox[1] |
| Developer | Liberty Property Trust[5] |
The American Commerce Center was a supertall skyscraper approved for construction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At 1,510 feet (460 m) tall with 63 floors, the building would dominate the Philadelphia skyline, standing over 500 ft (150 m) taller than Philadelphia's current tallest building, the recently completed Comcast Center.[3] The office tower would stand on the 19th Street side of Arch Street, and be connected to a 473 ft (144 m), 26-story hotel tower and public plaza along the 18th Street side of the block.[1] The connection consists of a multi-story skybridge with a garden on top.[4]
Of several supertall skyscrapers proposed for Philadelphia (including the Center City Tower and an early version of Comcast Center), this would be the first to be constructed.[6]
The building would be the second tallest building in the United States behind the Willis Tower at 1,730 ft (527 m). However, it would be the third tallest upon completion behind the 1,776 feet (541 meter) One World Trade Center, currently under construction in New York City. The tower's observation deck would be the tallest in the city.
On June 19, 2008, Philadelphia City Councilman Darrell Clarke introduced changes for the zoning legislation around 18th and Arch Streets which was the first step towards building the tower.[7] On November 18, 2008, the City Planning Commission signed off on legislation needed for the zoning changes. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "the developers will have to come back for approval of their building plan if Council passes the zoning bills."[8] On December 11, 2008, the zoning changes in question were unanimously approved by City Council.[9]
On August 19, 2011, Liberty Property Trust acquired the development site from Hill International Real Estate Partners for a reported $40 million, which equates to $612 per square-foot ($2,008 per square-meter). The same company constructed the nearby Comcast Center and Liberty Place complex. However, the project was cancelled.[5]
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