National Historic Landmark

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
December 8, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76001667

About this property

The PSFS Building, also known as the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, is a skyscraper in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building, the first International Style skyscraper constructed in the United States, was designed by architects William Lescaze and George Howe, was built for the Philadelphia Saving (later Savings) Fund Society. The skyscraper's design was a departure from traditional bank and Philadelphia architecture, lacking features such as domes and ornamentation. Combining Lescaze's experience with European modernism, Howe's Beaux-Arts background and the desire of Society President James M. Wilcox for a forward-thinking, tall building the skyscraper incorporated the main characteristics of International style architecture. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark. Called the United States' first modern skyscraper, and one of the most important skyscrapers built in the country in the first half of the 20th century, the building featured an innovative and effective design of a T-shaped tower that allowed the maximum amount of natural light and rentable space. The Philadelphia Saving Fund Society's offices and banking hall featured custom-designed furniture, including custom Cartier clocks on every floor. The top of the skyscraper featured the bank's boardroom. The building was the second high-rise in the U.S. to be equipped with air conditioning. The skyscraper is topped by a red neon sign with the PSFS initials. Visible for 20 miles (32 km), the sign has become a Philadelphia icon. In the 1980s, the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society lost millions of dollars. In 1992, the bank and its building were seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); by then, the skyscraper was 85 percent vacant. The FDIC auctioned the building off, and it was bought by developers to turn into a Loews Hotel. The Pennsylvania Convention Center opened in 1993 a block away. Conversion into a hotel began in 1998, and the Loews Philadelphia Hotel opened in time for the 2000 Republican National Convention.

Location

12 S. 19th St.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95165, -75.16030

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Reading Terminal and Trainshed
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Holman, A. J., and Company
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Young, Smyth, Field Company Building
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East Center City Commercial Historic District
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0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.2 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.6 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
4.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building listed on the National Register?

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building?

Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building?

The period of significance for Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Building?

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