2040 Market Street, Philadelphia
Retrofit Team
Architect: Varenhorst, Philadelphia
Fabricator: Universe Cladding Solutions, Bridgeton, Mo.
Installer: Fast Track Construction, Fort Washington, Pa.
Materials
For an architect working on a project that meshes an existing building with new construction, finding the right exterior cladding product to visually connect the two structures can be a challenge. Meteon panels were selected for the building’s façade, blending the old building with the new structure to create one seamless, modern look. The design flexibility and low maintenance of the panels made them an appealing choice for Varenhorst because the building is located in an urban setting with heavy exposure to vehicle and foot traffic.
“The cladding panels did a great job of seamlessly unifying the appearance of the renovated existing building with the new building expansion, more than doubling the original building’s size,” explains Neil Garrioch, studio director for Varenhorst.
Three custom colors were used to enhance the building’s curb appeal and make it a unique property within the landscape of downtown Philadelphia. Garrioch says the panels had just the right amount of reflectivity and responsiveness to the natural light conditions to create a welcoming effect for the building. In fact, he adds, the panel installation created such a buzz the building owner was able to fully lease the building before construction was even finished.
Panel Manufacturer: Trespa International B.V.
The Retrofit
Although the former headquarters of AAA Mid-Atlantic (the old part of the building) had an iconic look in the early 1960s, by today’s design standards the building looked tired and needed a fresh, contemporary skin. Transformed into a stunning, mixed-use, multifamily complex, the space today is highly sought with its sleek, contemporary design and central location within the city.
The building, which contains 282 units and 14,000 square feet of first-floor retail space, includes a community roof deck, fitness center and hotel-style lobby.
Photo: Trespa International B.V.