A striking new addition is emerging along the Schuylkill River as construction progresses on a 307 foot tall, 23 story mixed use high rise at 2301 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City West, Philadelphia. Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz and developed and constructed by PMC Property Group, the sleek glass tower is transforming a once overlooked, complicated site into a bold urban statement. Once completed, the development will offer 334,201 square feet of interior space, including 287 residential units, office space, and parking for 44 cars and 96 bicycles.
Rendering Courtesy of Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The tower is situated on a challenging, wedge shaped lot pressed between significant infrastructure and limited access. The narrow eastern edge of the site meets North 23rd Street, the only point of public access, while the wider western edge faces the river but is cut off from direct street frontage by active railroad tracks. The lot is further boxed in to the north and south by elevated viaducts, JFK Boulevard and the regional rail, each towering more than 20 feet above street level. Despite these constraints, the project is not only rising successfully but doing so with architectural grace.
Construction has advanced significantly since piling work was underway in early 2023. As of now, the concrete frame has reached three stories, and the tower’s signature curves, reminiscent of river carved stone, are already apparent. This distinctive form sets the building apart as one of the most sophisticated new designs to appear in Philadelphia’s skyline in recent years.
The impact of the development is especially visible from the Schuylkill River Trail and the west bank, where it fills a visual and spatial gap between the burgeoning skyline of Center City and the newer Riverwalk towers just to the north. The building’s gently undulating, glassy exterior catches the light and reflects the surrounding environment, giving it a sculptural presence that complements the neighboring architecture while carving out its own identity.
To the east, the tower stands as a companion to the city’s historic 30th Street Station, flanking JFK Boulevard and adding dimension to one of the city’s most iconic view corridors. From street level, the building will activate a long underutilized stretch of the boulevard with residential life, pedestrian access, and office activity, bringing new energy to a space once defined by its inaccessibility.
Beyond its architectural elegance, the development plays an important urban role. It effectively bridges the transition between Center City and University City, two major hubs of commerce, education, and transit. By placing dense, mixed use housing directly along this corridor, the tower helps weave together the city’s fabric and promotes a more walkable, transit oriented future for Philadelphia.
PMC Property Group’s decision to take on the challenges of this site demonstrates a vision that is as ambitious as it is pragmatic. The building’s design celebrates the city’s embrace of modernism and urban renewal while respecting the unique constraints and context of the site. When completed, the tower at 2301 JFK Boulevard will not just be another high rise. It will be a key piece of Philadelphia’s evolving skyline and a model for how complicated lots can be reimagined as vital urban assets.