CANstruction 2014! We need your help!

CANstruction is an annual design competition for architects across
the country to showcase their creative skills to bring awareness to
hunger using canned goods. This particular competition benefits
the Delaware Valley’s non-profit food bank PHILABUNDANCE
whose goal is to provide hunger relief to low income individuals
and families. Through our participation with CANstruction and
our partnership with Philabundance to create the Fare and Square
Supermarket, JKR Partners is constantly strengthening our
commitment to providing for our community.
Donate using our our Fundly Site here. 
every little bit helps! 

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!

Breaking Ground at Cottman & Castor!

Dave and Elisa with their golden shovels.

all the people that make the projects happen

Clover in the mid 80s?

bringing the site into the 21st century

1954... the original

Dave, Elisa, Katie and Mike Schmitt have been working diligently for the last few months to get the Cottman and Castor job off the ground for Kimco Realty. This morning, ground was sort of broken for the project, if you count just holding a ceremonial golden shovel as breaking ground.  Other than no ground actually being broken, it was your typical celebratory event complete with all the local politicians and deal makers.  There was a ceremonial sledgehammer to take down some of the existing building.  Although this particular project isn't the most glamorous, it is a pretty big deal for the Great Northeast. What was once a Lit Brothers store eons ago, then a Gimbels, and then a Clover store, and then JC Penny for a short while, then just a vacant building for a long time, is now going to be given new life as a Burlington Coat Factory, a Bob's Discount Furniture and a soon to be TJ Maxx if everything goes as planned.  So the site has a long and storied history as a retail anchor in the Bustleton neighborhood.  This is a game changer for this area, which believe it or not happens to have the highest concentration of retail in Philadelphia outside of Center City.

Cima Network Open House

Look familar? Regal 42nd Street.

Pep Boys and American Girl and Flix Brewhouse

The next Regal sign.

Cima Network, the company that does all of our Regal Cinema lighting and probably all of our theater lighting in general, held an open house last night in their new office space and fabrication lab.  It's pretty awesome to see how the signs we draw up get built and get to know the people that make them.  They were able to show off their new space and their new machines, and even showed us some of the machines in action.  They are fully equipped now to make pretty much anything with their huge CNC machine, computerized metal breaks, and some great hand tools and digital printers.  The best part? They're just a really good group of people that we love working with. 

Movers and Shakers

One of the coolest dudes ever. Him, not me.

B-Mac (Bob) and I were at the Center for Architecture last night for the award of the annual Ed Bacon Prize honoring national individuals who have advocated for excellence in urban development, planning, thought, and design through conviction of vision.  The first awardee was former Philadelphia mayor and then Pennsylvania governor, Ed Rendell.  He was a pretty cool dude as expected.  We talked about football, the olympics, politics, and some hotel gossip surrounding the new Comcast building and moving the Four Seasons Hotel.  He added a good story about how he convinced J.W. Marriott to build the Marriott on Market Street back in the day.  But of all the traveling he's done, believe it or not, he still thinks the Airport Marriott is one of the best hotels he's ever stayed in.    Guess who else was there... wait for it..... Ed Bacon's daughter.  That makes Bob and I only one degree from Kevin Bacon!

Weekdays at Jerry's

It's beer O'clock at JKR Partners once again.  "Weekdays at Jerry's" is an Amber IPA brewed by Tim, with labels designed by Izzo.  If you want a six pack of this great tasting and great looking beer, ask Tim.  If you want some sweet looking labels for your homemade concoction, ask Izzo. I apologize for the instagram filters.

Marissa is now officially an Architect!

Marissa, the architect

Look at that smile! After months of studying, and agonizing, and stressing, and dealing with NCARB and all the other negative words associated with the Architecture Registration Exam, Marissa has conquered the tests! All of them! She has risen to the top and has earned the right to call herself Marissa McMurtrie, AIA.  She's been beaming all morning! Flying from desk to desk! She's walking on air.  And if you aren't familiar with the exams, the ain't easy.  This is a big deal. I think we have a couple more people in the office about to become architects in the not too distant future. Check back here for updates.