Editing One Liberty Place

{{Infobox LocalBusiness
| name = One Liberty Place
| image =
| image_caption = One Liberty Place skyline
| type = Skyscraper, landmark
| address = 1650 Market Street
| neighborhood = Center City
| coordinates = 39.9527,-75.1682
| phone =
| website =
| established = 1987
| founder = Rouse & Associates
| owner = Brookfield Properties
| employees =
| hours = Lobby: business hours; observation deck closed
| products = Office space
| status = Active
}}

'''One Liberty Place''' is a 61-story skyscraper located at 1650 Market Street in [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]], rising 945 feet (288 meters) and serving as the tallest building in Pennsylvania from its completion in 1987 until 2007. The building is famous for breaking the "gentlemen's agreement" that had limited Philadelphia buildings to the height of the William Penn statue atop [[Philadelphia City Hall]]—a tradition that had stood for 86 years. This transgression allegedly triggered the "Curse of Billy Penn," which supposedly plagued Philadelphia's sports teams until 2008.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/one-liberty-place/ |title=One Liberty Place |publisher=Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

Designed by architect '''Helmut Jahn''' in the postmodern style, One Liberty Place features a distinctive blue glass and steel curtain wall topped by a dramatic angular spire. The building, along with its companion '''Two Liberty Place''' (completed 1990), transformed Philadelphia's skyline and launched a skyscraper boom that continues today. One Liberty Place remains one of the most recognizable buildings in the Philadelphia skyline.<ref name="visit">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/one-liberty-place/ |title=One Liberty Place |publisher=Visit Philadelphia |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== The Gentlemen's Agreement ===

For 86 years, from 1901 to 1987, an unwritten "gentlemen's agreement" among Philadelphia developers ensured that no building would rise higher than the brim of William Penn's hat atop [[Philadelphia City Hall]]—a height of 548 feet. While never legally mandated, the tradition was widely respected, keeping City Hall as the dominant feature of the Philadelphia skyline.

=== Breaking the Height Limit ===

Developer '''Willard Rouse''' and his company Rouse & Associates announced plans in 1984 to build a skyscraper that would exceed the traditional height limit. Despite opposition from preservationists and traditionalists, the project moved forward.

One Liberty Place opened in '''December 1987''', rising 945 feet—nearly 400 feet taller than City Hall. The building instantly became Philadelphia's tallest and sparked a fundamental change in how the city viewed its skyline.

=== The Curse of Billy Penn ===

Shortly after One Liberty Place opened, Philadelphia sports fans began noting an unusual drought:
* '''No championships:''' Between 1983 (76ers) and 2008 (Phillies), no Philadelphia major sports team won a championship
* '''The curse:''' Fans attributed the drought to the violation of the gentlemen's agreement, calling it the "Curse of Billy Penn"

When the Comcast Center was constructed in 2007-2008, a small statue of William Penn was affixed to its top beam, "restoring" Penn to the highest point in the city. The Phillies won the World Series that fall, and many fans declared the curse broken.

=== Two Liberty Place ===

A companion tower, '''Two Liberty Place''' (848 feet, 58 stories), was completed in 1990. The two towers share a complex base with retail and dining options.

== Architecture ==

=== Postmodern Design ===

One Liberty Place was designed by '''Helmut Jahn''' of Murphy/Jahn in the postmodern style:

==== Exterior ====
* '''Height:''' 945 feet (288 meters) to roof; 1,050 feet with spire
* '''Floors:''' 61
* '''Material:''' Blue glass and steel curtain wall
* '''Crown:''' Distinctive angular spire inspired by the Chrysler Building
* '''Style:''' Postmodern, with Art Deco and modernist elements

==== Features ====
* Setbacks create visual interest and reference older skyscraper designs
* Blue-tinted glass gives the building its distinctive appearance
* Steel crown and spire are dramatically lit at night

=== Influence ===

One Liberty Place's success launched a Philadelphia skyscraper boom:
* Two Liberty Place (1990)
* Mellon Bank Center (1990)
* Comcast Center (2008)
* Comcast Technology Center (2018)

== The Complex ==

The Liberty Place complex includes:

=== One Liberty Place ===
* 61 floors of Class A office space
* Major tenants include professional services firms
* Approximately 1.4 million square feet

=== Two Liberty Place ===
* 58 floors, 848 feet tall
* Westin Philadelphia hotel (top floors)
* Office and retail space

=== The Shops at Liberty Place ===
* Retail mall at base of towers
* Food court and dining options
* Access from Market Street

=== One Liberty Observation Deck (Closed) ===

One Liberty Place formerly operated an observation deck on the 57th floor offering 360-degree views of the Philadelphia region. The observation deck closed in 2023. Visitors seeking skyline views should consider alternatives such as the Philadelphia City Hall tower tour.

== Visiting Liberty Place ==

=== The Shops at Liberty Place ===

The retail complex at the base of the towers includes:
* Shops and boutiques
* Food court
* Restaurants
* Access from 16th and 17th Streets and Market Street

=== Getting There ===

* '''SEPTA Suburban Station:''' Adjacent to the complex
* '''SEPTA Market-Frankford Line:''' 15th Street Station
* '''SEPTA Broad Street Line:''' City Hall Station
* '''Bus Routes:''' Multiple routes on Market Street

=== Observation Alternatives ===

With the One Liberty Observation Deck closed, alternatives include:
* [[Philadelphia City Hall]] tower tour
* Various rooftop bars and restaurants

== See Also ==

* [[Philadelphia City Hall]]
* [[PSFS Building]]
* [[Comcast Center]]
* [[Skyscrapers in Philadelphia]]
* [[Center City, Philadelphia]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/one-liberty-place/ Visit Philadelphia Guide]
* [https://www.emporis.com/buildings/111193/one-liberty-place-philadelphia-pa-usa Emporis Building Information]

{{#seo:
|title=One Liberty Place Philadelphia - The Building That Broke the Height Limit
|description=One Liberty Place, the postmodern skyscraper that broke Philadelphia's gentlemen's agreement in 1987. History of the Curse of Billy Penn, Helmut Jahn architecture, and the transformation of Philly's skyline.
|keywords=One Liberty Place, Philadelphia skyscraper, Curse of Billy Penn, gentlemen's agreement, Helmut Jahn, tallest building Philadelphia, postmodern architecture, William Penn height limit
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Landmarks]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers]]
[[Category:Center City]]
[[Category:Architecture]]
[[Category:Modern Philadelphia]]