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Lofts 640 are giving life to North Broad Street.
Although it has long stood in the shadow of the architecture of the Avenue of the Arts, North Broad Street is asserting
its architectural prowess with the Lofts 640. EB Realty Management Corp., the visionaries behind the Marine Club and the
Cigar Factory, have chased the drafts out of the former Mulford Building and transformed a historically certified industrial
shell into an all-inclusive luxury loft package.
Built in the classical revival style in 1913- the history of the nine-story brick and steel structure is a piece
of Philadelphia's garment manufacturing past. The design team decided to let the building's roots show. The
original façade, antique wrought iron elevator, exposed brick wall, factory style fire doors and mosaic tile flooring
commemorate the building's past and give it some urban flourishes.
Encompassing old houses of worship, narrow residential streets and the Dvine Lorraine, the view offers a panoramic eyeful
of Philadelphia. For EB Realty director of leasing Frank Clapsaddle, the location forms a bridge between Center City and
Fairmount.
We really believe that this building is the Center City anchor to the community that's known as Fairmount. We have the
luxury of being this close to Center City, yet our community is Fairmount. So if you want that neighborhood bar experiences,
or if you want to go in and have a relaxed pint of beer, you would want to go to Fairmount, Clapsaddle says, citing Illuminare,
Rembrandt's, London Grill and Jack's Firehouse as nearby eating and drinking fixtures.
The apartment complex was designed with the goal of consolidating all the needs of the urban tenant into one facility.
For instance, despite its location six blocks from City Hall and right on the Broad Street subway line, the first two
stories of the Lofts 640 have a secure parking garage. Architects Alesker & Dundon and designer Suki Che created a yoga and
Pilates studio separate from the fitness center. The studio features bamboo flooring and bright orange acrylic panels suspended
from the ceiling in such a way that they seem to levitate over the practitioner. The crown jewel of the development an
entirely environmentally friendly saltwater pool sits atop the roof of the annex. The enclosed and heated pool is
available for use year round.
The pool is going to be lit from the bottom up with lights that change colors, so the overall effect will be like looking down
on a lava lamp at the heart of the building, Clapsaddle says.
Inside the 266 apartments, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows flood the units with natural light. The ceilings are between 13
and 16 feet high, and the 1,000 to 1,500 square feet are fairly uninterrupted because EB Realty wanted a pure, back to basics
loft design. The units range in price from $1,250 to $1,595 a month for one or two bedrooms.
Amanda Williamson
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