Rittenhouse Plaza Apartments is an Art-Deco influenced residential building located at the corner of 19th and Walnut Streets, overlooking Rittenhouse Square. Constructed circa 1924, the sophisticated apartment house was designed by McLanahan & Bencker and features an H-shaped floor plan with first floor commercial space and 21-stories of residential apartments. Setback balconies clad with terra cotta tiles adorn the upper levels of the building and give it a strong architectural presence. The Walnut Street entrance is set behind an elegant courtyard garden enclosed by slender limestone archways and a decorative wrought iron gate.
The building walls are constructed of buff brick, accented by limestone masonry along the lower floors and ornate terra cotta along the upper floors. Distinct façade features include the arched setback balconies, wrought iron window grilles, terra cotta clad penthouse walls, and a decorative terra cotta parapet along Walnut Street. The interior spaces are equally grand. The main lobby boasts a shallow vaulted plaster ceiling, limestone walls, bronze doors, and elaborate metalwork.
The building was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1995.
The building was recently damaged by a large concrete spill that hit the facades, roof, and entry plaza. Repairing the damage required an ultra-sensitive approach. An extensive program of cleaning trials performed by CVM and our collaborators led to a multi-task approach of conservation, sensitive non-aggressive cleaning, and limited replacement of building elements including decorative architectural terra cotta.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Prime Consultant: CVM
