JKRP wins another Preservation Award!

Lounge

amazing roof deck

the beautiful lobby

amazing conference room on the top floor

roof lounge

typical bedroom

corner unit

high end bathrooms

tons of natural light

Our ICON|1616 Walnut project has just been awarded a Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Grand Jury Award for outstanding project.  The building had been used as office space since it was completed in the late 1920s.  



The $50 million construction project took 18 months, and was completed in the spring of 2014.  It has been a catalyst in the resurgence of older Philadelphia buildings being converted or repurposed into ultra high-end residences. As of December 2014, the building has commanded the highest residential rents in the city. Its location on the toniest shopping street in the city and its proximity to Rittenhouse Square and restaurants give it a competitive edge in a robust market, but the real differentiator is the world class amenities incorporated into the new design. The building boasts the largest open air roof deck in the city and affords spectacular views of the city skyline and the building also contains lavish communal spaces and a fitness center that would rival most commercial gyms.   The residential units themselves have also spared no expense, with high ceilings, huge expanses of glazing and natural light and only the finest finishes. The new design features have been meticulously executed to complement the original grandeur of the iconic building and bring it back to the same glory it had on the day it opened eighty five years ago.  

Ave of the Arts building going Apartments.

Avenue of the Arts

Avenue of JKR Partners aka Chestnut Street

We are continuing our hot streak on the 1300 block of Chestnut Street and working our way up North on Broad. If you didn't already know, we've done the schematic plans for the Juniper Hotel, we've fit out Dick Blick, we've done the Lucky Strike, we've done the Olive Garden, and we've done the Capital Grille. Now we are going fit out the rest of the Avenue of the Arts building with 220 upscale apartments at 176k SF of space via a gut renovation, adding a state-of-art fitness center and roof deck, with units ready in 2016.The building was originally built in 1897 as office space and was most recently used as student housing for the University of the Arts.  We're in there surveying as we speak!

Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp gets new offices

the Before (the former Club Jag)

The after.

OARCs new Office

The welcoming entrance

OARC, the organization responsible for a lot of great revitalization projects along Ogontz Avenue in West Oak Lane, including the West Oak Lane Charter School that we recently completed, called on us to design their new headquarters and administrative offices.  JKRP designed a complete facelift for the former Club Jaguar at the intersection of Ogontz Ave. and Cheltenham Ave.  While the old photo makes Club Jag look really good, we thought it could still use some help. Whereas the nightclub operated mainly after dark, numerous window openings helped to transform the building and provide abundant daylight to the new office areas.  Greg and Glenn did a great job transforming the place and giving it some new life. 

Walgreens without Borders

Remember this? The dvds were in the center, and off to the left were the architecture books. The chandeliers are staying.

Demolition underway.  The old color scheme is out.

Free advertising on Broad Street.

It's always sad when a bookstore closes, but it's more sad if a building in a prominent location sits empty. Before you say, "Aw man, not another Walgreens!" this isn't just any old Walgreens.  This is like a luxury drugstore for famous people. I mean, when was the last time you went to a drugstore and thought, "I'm just going to pick up some Q-tips and maybe get some sushi and a carrot smoothie for lunch while I'm there."  It's kinda like a bricks and mortar Craigslist.  It's got everything. This is another Sam and Dave undertaking, transforming this former Borders Books on the corner of Broad and Chestnut in the city into a flagship Walgreens like they have in NYC and Chicago.  Should be pretty awesome when it's done. 

Nugent Senior Apartments Ground breaking

old meets new

All the big wigs at Thursday's ground breaking

Nugent Senior Apartments on West Johnson Street in the Mt. Airy section of the city is a new project we're working on for Nolen Properties.  We're converting this beautiful building back to it's original luster creating 25 units in the old building and adding 32 rental units in a new addition in the rear.  It was originally built in 1895 for the care of elderly Baptist ministers and their wives, and in 2006 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Last year we did a similar successful conversion like this for Nolen with our Presser Senior Apartments.