3K 
West of Philadelphia's Center City, just across the Schuylkill River, the streets of the University City area are witnessing major changes. Steps away from the Art Deco former United States Post Office and the 30th Street Station, Brandywine Realty Trust is currently developing a two-tower complex on the block delineated by Chestnut Street to the north, Walnut Street to the south, South 30th Street to the west, and the Schuylkill to the east. While the first phase of the development on the north side of the site, known as EVO at Cira Centre South, is already complete, the second phase is now rising several storeys above ground on the southernmost section of the lot.
Named the FMC Tower at Cira Centre South in reference to FMC Corporation, the specialty chemical company that will set up its global headquarters in the building, the 49-storey mixed-use tower will consist of 930 square metres of ground-level retail spaces stretching along South 30th Street, topped by 58,000 square metres of office space and 268 luxury highrise residences. The office portion of the tower will be leased by FMC Corporation — taking up 23,500 square metres of space — and the University of Pennsylvania, which plans to set up a 9,300 square-metre office. Floor plates will span an average of 2,320 square metres and boast a three-metre ceiling height. This 233-metre tower was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and BLT Architects following LEED-based guidelines for sustainable architecture.
A one-acre urban park planned for the rooftop of the adjacent elevated parking lot separating EVO and the FMC Tower is set become the first green space of its kind in the city. Reserved for office workers and residents, Cira Green will be directly connected to both towers through a sky bridge, while an elevator will connect it to ground level. On the upper 18 floors of this angled tower, a series of apartments and extended-stay suites will boast expansive views of the city and the river, thanks to the minimalist clear curtain wall facade. Those residents will enjoy an entire floor of amenities, including a spa, fitness center, 22-metre pool, private room for entertaining, and conference centre.
This development is currently scheduled for completion in 2016. In the meantime, you can find recent construction pictures of the tower in our dedicated Forum thread and share your opinion by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page. More information and renderings are also available on the building's Database page.
