Centre Square

Centre Square is a striking office complex in downtown Philadelphia, made up of two towering concrete skyscrapers. The complex was designed in the 1960s by Vincent Kling & Associates and opened in 1973. The smaller east tower, Centre Square I, is 32 stories tall, while the west tower, Centre Square II, is the taller of the two at 40 floors. The two towers are connected by a four-story atrium topped with a domed glass roof. Inside the atrium, an elaborately designed elevator system links the levels. The complex stands directly across from Philadelphia City Hall, and its architecture played a major role in shifting the center of the city's office district from South Broad Street toward West Market Street.

For visitors and passersby, the plaza in front of the building is best known for the large sculpture "Clothespin" by artist Claes Oldenburg. Made of Cor-Ten steel and stainless steel, this giant clothespin stands over the entrance to the subway station and has earned the building the nickname "Clothespin Building." The project's developer, Jack Wolgin, commissioned this and other works under the city's program that sets aside part of construction costs for art. Alongside the clothespin, he also commissioned Jean Dubuffet's steel sculpture "Milord la Chamarre," which originally stood in the atrium and was later moved outside. Colorful banners by artist Alexander Calder once hung from the atrium ceiling as well; they were lost during a renovation and only rediscovered years later. These art installations helped give Philadelphia a reputation as a city with a vibrant public art scene.

Over the decades, Centre Square has housed numerous well-known companies, including the law firm Saul Ewing and, for a time, the cable provider Comcast, which had its headquarters here before moving to a new building. The management consulting firm Willis Towers Watson was also one of the largest tenants in the east tower for many years. The complex's history, however, has had its economic ups and downs. After several changes of ownership and renovations that included modernizing the elevators and the facade, the building ran into financial difficulties in the 2020s. By then, a considerable portion of the towers stood empty, and ideas were floated to convert the office space into housing in order to put the property back to use.