Comcast Center
Philadelphia, PA

Mixing modernism with minimalism on the tallest building in Pennsylvania, Robert A.M. Stern Architects have placed their mark on the Philly skyline with another vertical eye-climb. The 975 foot tall Comcast Center features a subtle geometric design of large glass planes interrupted by terraces and notches in a fully glazed, highly transparent facade that floods interior spaces with diffused natural light.

Comcast Center was awarded LEED Gold certification by the United States Green Building Council, making it the tallest LEED certified building in the United States at the time of completion. The building structure incorporates 15 to 17 foot floor heights that rely on natural lighting, resulting in 13 percent less energy usage than conventional buildings. High performance low-e coatings throughout the facade protect the building from temperature extremes.

A 120 foot tall public winter garden clad entirely by glass sits at the base of the tower. This advanced facade design features a double skin cavity wall with an integrated and automated sunscreen system to regulate daily and seasonal solar and temperature variations while also continuing the structure’s theme of maximized daylighting. This winter garden, in addition to a trio of three-story atria, building corners and crown of the tower, are all clad by ultra-clear, low-E, low-iron glass. A lightly tinted and reflective glass is used throughout the tower's remaining facade.

Enclos provided complete design/build services for all facade elements while working closely with the architect throughout the design phase. The project's oversized curtainwall units were fabricated and assembled offsite, then shipped in a carefully coordinated sequence to support the firm’s installation crews. Enclos site operations personnel worked closely with the general contractor to develop an optimum erection strategy for the project's challenging dense urban surroundings.