PHILADELPHIA | 1101 Walnut Street | 199 FT | 18 FLOORS

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by Gatorade_Jim

Honestly the only thing that really bothers me about this project is the use of limestone colored metal panels over precast concrete. The original plans had concrete but it was switched in the CDR submission. As rents keep rising hopefully we’ll get better quality buildings but in my opinion this is still better than 1213 Walnut.

I'm just hoping the brick isn't precast.

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I'm just hoping the brick isn't precast.

There is exactly 0% chance that brick isn't precast. lol.

[Justin7]

^ Precast in this case being shorthand for precast "brick" panels rather a hand-laid facade of individual bricks.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Redddog

There is exactly 0% chance that brick isn't precast. lol.

I don't know about that. The materials key in the CDR presentation said Norman Brick Dark Gray and Norman Brick Glazed Black. Didn't specify faux brick panels. Norman is a particular size of brick — 3-5/8 x 2-1/4 x 11-5/8 inches.

[colemonkee]

Norman brick can be incorporated into pre-cast panels that are assembled offsite vs. laid onsite. That being said, pre-cast brick panels, if done right, can look quite nice. The key is in the gaps between the panels. If those are kept tight, pre-cast can look just as good as laid-in-place. Most of the new buildings at USC in LA are pre-cast brick panels, and they end up looking fantastic, even next to the older buildings that were laid-in-place. All comes down to the fabricator they select and how tight those panels are. I'm holding out hope!

[summersm343]

Getting Spicy on Walnut: Wendy’s Making Room for Nearly 200 Apartments







Read/view more here:
https://www.ocfrealty.com/naked-phil...200-apartments

[PurpleWhiteOut]

I want this to turn out well, but metal panels and JKRP together is a red flag to me, not gonna lie. Concrete panels would have been nice to see.

[Gatorade_Jim]

Originally Posted by PurpleWhiteOut

I want this to turn out well, but metal panels and JKRP together is a red flag to me, not gonna lie. Concrete panels would have been nice to see.

What’s weird is that the original packet listed concrete panels. After the redesign those were swapped with limestone colored metal panels. Time will tell I guess. Rents in the city are getting to the point where using shit materials can’t be justified on cost alone. It seems like it’s greed and developers being too shortsighted.

[phlmatt]

Any idea how they’ll set up the crane for this one with the Jefferson Hospital helipad literally across the (narrow) street? Seems potentially dangerous.

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

[...] pre-cast brick panels, if done right, can look quite nice. The key is in the gaps between the panels. If those are kept tight, pre-cast can look just as good as laid-in-place. Most of the new buildings at USC in LA are pre-cast brick panels, and they end up looking fantastic, even next to the older buildings that were laid-in-place.

If this is true I've never seen it. Any local examples?

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by Justin7

If this is true I've never seen it. Any local examples?

Museum of the American Revolution had precast brick walls. Looks pretty good and had to tell it was precast.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Justin7

If this is true I've never seen it. Any local examples?

If I'm not mistaken, the Alexander used this technique.

[Justin7]

Panels jump out when I look at both of those buildings. I accept that this is something that bothers me a lot more than most people.

I doubt we'll ever see real (referring to size/application, not material) brick above the base of a tower, but the panels on the first few floors is always going to look like a developer cheaped out.

That said, the best examples of precast brick I've seen is when the gaps are thoughtfully incorporated into the design, and at the very least, centered between windows (though I can't think of an example at the moment).

[City Wide]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Norman brick can be incorporated into pre-cast panels that are assembled offsite vs. laid onsite. That being said, pre-cast brick panels, if done right, can look quite nice. The key is in the gaps between the panels. If those are kept tight, pre-cast can look just as good as laid-in-place. Most of the new buildings at USC in LA are pre-cast brick panels, and they end up looking fantastic, even next to the older buildings that were laid-in-place. All comes down to the fabricator they select and how tight those panels are. I'm holding out hope!

If all we are talking about is the first three floors, then I hope its traditional laid in place, one at a time brick. Not that I expect that to happen, because the whole system of bidding and logistics doesn't think that way, but for 3 floors the old fashion method might actually be a less costly approach.

As long as design isn't a consideration when renting an apartment, then developers will continue to use cheap crap. But when someone takes a chance and designs and builds a higher class apartment building and it's successful, then we'll continue to see more of the same.
But from what reports seem to be saying, there hasn't been any high-rise projects built in the last 10 years or so that hasn't been rented up in a reasonable time frame. So if you were a developer, would you willingly spend an extra 15% hoping it would pay off, or just stick with the same old, same old method of making bank?

[PHL10]

Originally Posted by Justin7

If this is true I've never seen it. Any local examples?

10 Rittenhouse is another example and in that case, a less well executed one IMO.

[colemonkee]

Yes, was going to use 10 Rittenhouse as a local example, but to my earlier point, 10 Rittenhouse suffers a bit from wider seams between the pre-cast panels. The panels themselves look just fine - it's the detailing between them that gives it away. Still, once you back a way a bit the building looks just fine.

But agreed that the ideal scenario would be laid-in-place brick for those first few levels, as the cost to do so wouldn't be so astronomical.

[Redddog]

218 arch is pre-cast and it looks like ass.

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Redddog

218 arch is pre-cast and it looks like ass.

I wouldn't say the whole building looks like ass, but those vertical lines totally do.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Justin7

If this is true I've never seen it. Any local examples?

Ten Rittenhouse is one that comes to mind.

[summersm343]

Demo updated from PhillyYimby:



https://phillyyimby.com/2022/08/supe...nter-city.html