15-story Cambria Hotel opens in Philadelphia

The Cambria Hotel on South Broad Street is now open for business in Center City, Philadelphia. The 15-story, 174,000-sf hotel brings 223 guest rooms to the Pennsylvania city.

A two-story entry with a sculptural staircase that leads to the main lobby and a restaurant space greets guests upon entering the hotel. Additional amenities include a boardroom for small meetings, a 2,500-sf multi-function meeting space, and a fitness center. Attico, a 3,000-sf rooftop restaurant will be the largest rooftop restaurant and bar on Broad Street. Additionally, a Del Frisco’s Grille will be opened on the ground floor in October 2018.

The Cambria Hotel on Broad Street Rendering courtesy of DAS Architects.

During the demolition and excavation of the parking garage that previously occupied the space, a two-level basement, a boiler plant, and concourse tunnels that connected to the subway system were discovered, belonging to what was once part of an 1800s office building. The basement and tunnels needed to be covered over with the construction of the new garage, so in order to proceed, the existing cavities had to be circumvented by threading new caissons around the abandoned tunnels and caissons. A partial mat foundation covered and entombed the two-level basement.

The project was developed by Pearl Properties, The Harman Group was the structural engineer, and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. will manage the property.

Hoping to send a loud message that Chicago is serious about luring tourism and entertainment spending, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has released details of two initiatives that have been developing for more than a year and that it says will mean $1.1 billion in investment in the McCormick Place and Navy Pier areas.

For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High Scho

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Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course

Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.

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Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code

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Batson-Cook completes Hampton Inn near National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning

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6 lobby design tips

If you do hotels, schools, student unions, office buildings, performing arts centers, transportation facilities, or any structure with a lobby, here are six principles from healthcare lobby design that make for happier users—and more satisfied owners.