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Atop the Comcast Technology Center

On a recent trip to the new Comcast Technology Center at 1800 Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia with the special inspections group, members of Urban’s team traveled from the street level all the way up to the 59th floor by crane basket. They made a stop at the site of the future Town Hall section of the building, which will be located on floors 18 and 19, as well as the future 42nd floor, where a sky garden will be located.

The team traveled up to the future 59th floor and inspected the north and south faces of the concrete core of the building, at 891 feet in the air. Be sure to watch the video above in its entirety to see the views these special inspectors are privileged enough to see!

Never until that moment, while dangling a thousand feet up, did it ever dawn on me the immense amount of work and complexity that goes into erecting these monolithic structures. - Kaytalin Platt, Urban Engineers

Construction on the building has been underway, and the special inspectors on the project have quite a view. The new LEED Platinum glass and stainless steel tower is a bold design and headlines the current development in Philadelphia. It’s also another major milestone for Urban’s strong special inspections practice.

As part of the work on the Technology Center, which is set to be the tallest building in Philadelphia and the eighth-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, inspectors have been testing welds on the structure’s 60 floors. Beginning with the project while it was still a hole in the ground, Urban’s construction services team has been a part of one of the city’s largest projects ever. It has also allowed them the chance to have views like no other, standing at heights most people never get to see, unless it’s behind a window.

"Lifting to the top of the Comcast Technology Center was a thrilling experience," said Kaytalin Platt, an Urban Engineers Photographer. "As a bystander to infrastructure and progress, I've seen buildings raised and lowered around me, but never until that moment, while dangling a thousand feet up, did it ever dawn on me the immense amount of work and complexity that goes into erecting these monolithic structures."

The building has also gained recognition as being the largest private development project in the history of Pennsylvania. “I always wanted to be part of a team that transforms the city’s skyline,” said Urban’s John DiValentino, PE, LEED AP, who is overseeing the team of special inspectors. His crew has been drawing upon Urban’s experience from working on major building projects like One World Trade Center in New York City, where Urban monitored construction on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Experience from this tower will benefit the work they have coming on the monumental projects they have on the horizon.