Society Hill is one of Philadelphia's two most prestigious addresses (with Rittenhouse Square the other). As many know, this was not always so. In the 1950s, Society Hill had somewhat bottomed out, existing as one of the largest slums in all Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Planning Commission, spearheaded by Ed Bacon and endorsed by Mayor Richardson Dilworth, focused its late 50s efforts on revitalizing the area, recognizing its location could not be left to rot. Society Hill's transformation and greenways were arguably Bacon's greatest effort as a city planner, and the pinnacle of this achievement sits atop a five acre hill.

Developer William Zeckendorf hired on world renowed architect I.M. Pei to create a landmark apartment complex, and he did just that in the triple tower, 31 story Society Hill Towers and the adjacent townhouses and landscaping. Artwork by Gaston Lachaise and Leonard Baskin were included in the 1% for Art program. Pei won the Progressive Architecture Award for Design in 1961, the AIA Honor Award in 1965 and the HUD Award for Design Excellence in 1966 for the complex, which was completed in 1963.

The apartments were converted to condos in 1979 and have remained so ever since. This is our appreciation of Society Hill Towers.

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