The 49-storey FMC Tower has risen just two blocks away from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station and the original glass-clad Cira Centre complex. Developed by Brandywine Realty Trust for American chemical manufacturing company FMC Corporation, the mixed-use tower represents the final phase of the 2.7-million-square-foot Cira Centre South development, which includes a student housing facility in EVO at Cira Centre South

The topped-out FMC Tower is almost fully sheathed, image by Flickr user Michael W Murphy via Creative Commons

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and BLT Architects carry on the design language previously established in the original Cira Centre project. The slender building of sculptural proportions has reflective curtain wall glazing enveloping its skeletal frame. On the ground, where a 25,000-square-foot restaurant and retail pavilion provides an engaging public realm, the lobby extends outside, only separated by a transparent glass partition. An inclined ceiling forms a covered colonnade and indicates the double-height entrance to the building. 

FMC Tower and EVO at Cira Centre South, image by Flickr user Michael W Murphy via Creative Commons

The 223-metre (730-foot) skyscraper will boast 622,000 square feet of office space with ten-foot ceilings. In addition to FMC's committed space, the University of Pennsylvania will serve as a lead tenant in the state-of-the-art development. A substantial residential component of 260 apartments will top the office portion, with a 28th floor amenities space hosting a terrace, pool, fitness centre, spa, media lounge, golf simulator, and more. 

FMC Tower stands tall adjacent to EVO at Cira Centre South, image by Flickr user Michael W Murphy via Creative Commons

An adjacent 1,600-space parking garage is crowned by a one-acre elevated park. This feature, dubbed Cira Green, is directly accessible to the FMC Tower via skybridge. The open space will be freely available for use by office tenants and residents, with occasional corporate events, concerts, and performances adding to the ambiance. The greenery will stretch down to the street thanks to a vibrant green wall next to the tower's lobby. 

FMC Tower extends the Philadelphia skyline, image by Flickr user Michael W Murphy via Creative Commons

Images from the site show the multi-faceted facade of the topped-out building, which culminates with an angled roofline. As glazing reaches the top levels of the tower and interior fit-out progresses, the externally mounted crane will no longer be needed. When the crane is disassembled, the skyscraper's full silhouette will be revealed in all its glory. 

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