Editing Contemporary Architecture (section)

== Urban Design ==

Contemporary urban design in Philadelphia has emphasized public space, pedestrian experience, and multimodal transportation. Dilworth Park (2014), redesigned by OECD/Claire Weisz, transformed the western plaza of City Hall into an active public space with fountain, cafe, and transit connections. LOVE Park (JFK Plaza) received similar treatment (2016-2018), though its redesign proved more controversial. Schuylkill Banks has developed riverfront parkland that provides recreation and flood management. These projects demonstrate how landscape architecture and urban design shape contemporary Philadelphia alongside building architecture.<ref name="stern"/>

The future of contemporary Philadelphia architecture will involve continuing negotiation between development pressure and preservation values, between global architectural trends and local conditions, between economic constraints and design ambition. The city's strong architectural heritage establishes high standards while its development needs create opportunities. How Philadelphia resolves these tensions—through zoning, design review, market forces, and public engagement—will determine whether contemporary architecture contributes positively to the urban environment that generations of builders have created.<ref name="davidson"/>