Comcast Technology Center

About the Project

The newly built, 60-story Comcast Technology Center in downtown Philadelphia is the city’s tallest structure. The 1,121-foot-tall building features 1.3 million square feet of office space and 3,500 square feet of retail and condo units, as well as multiple restaurants and a hotel.

The Challenge

To ensure Philadelphia’s newest skyline-changing skyscraper stood out in every way, Foster + Partners and Gensler Architects envisioned floor-to-ceiling, lobby-to-tower top customization. Despite the need for advanced engineering systems and data centers, designers kept all elements of the building warm, producing a natural, creative and artistic vibe. The design plan called for a mural on each floor, highlighting Philadelphia’s artist community, and a massive white globe, The Universal Sphere, to make an impressive welcome at the lobby.

The Solution

For beautiful architectural accents and stunning entranceways, the design team turned to Construction Specialties. GridLine® stainless-steel entrance grids were installed to complement the grandeur of the magnificent steel and glass structure. Beyond the entries, Foster + Partners and Gensler Architects worked with CS to create architectural accents by crafting GridLine+ to cover 24-inch-wide trenches, which act as air diffusers along the curtain wall. Taking full advantage of the high-tech appearance and custom capabilities of GridLine+, the team incorporated 12 grates in the lobby to encompass massive trees as well as grids to surround The Universal Sphere.