The psfs building in 1985.
Psfs building roof.
Throughout the great depression the sign remained lit 24 hours a day reassuring its customers that their money was safe and secure during hard times.
Philadelphia saving fund society twelfth and market streets habs pa 51 phila 584 1 tif 4 007 5 000.
Above the fifth floor the building assumes its characteristic t shape.
Floor joist from the great meeting house signed ac ic 1755 the twelfth street meeting house embodied more than 200 years of philadelphia quaker history and there was a strong desire to find a way to save the building.
Psfs building is in the background.
At the time the sign was put up such acronyms were unheard of.
Date possibly 1929 or 1930 when construction started.
It was built for the philadelphia saving later savings fund society in 1932 and was designed by architects william lescaze and george howe.
The typical plan shows how elevators and ducts are concentrated in one smooth block.
The sign hides mechanical equipment and can be seen for 20 miles 32 km.
The philadelphia savings fund society psfs building 12 south 19th street was designated a national historic landmark in 1976.
Portions of the content on this web page were adapted from a copy of the national register of historic places nomination document.
Philadelphia pa from the roof of the psfs building.
The psfs building that i took this photo from is considered to be the first modern skyscraper built in what is now called the international style.
The skyscraper is topped by a distinctive sign with the philadelphia saving fund society s initials.
The psfs building now known as the loews philadelphia hotel is a skyscraper in center city philadelphia pennsylvania a national historic landmark the building was the first international style skyscraper constructed in the united states.
The 27 feet 8 2 m high letters are white by day and illuminated with red neon lights by night.
New york has a few international style buildings but a lot of the.
Removal of the first roof truss july 1972.
The psfs building now known as the loews philadelphia hotel is a skyscraper in center city philadelphia pennsylvania a national historic landmark the building was the first international style skyscraper constructed in the united states.
It s called that because of how widespread the style has become.
Having the psfs sign on the roof of the building was the first time any advertisement was integrated into a building s design.
Photos are from the historic american buildings survey habs pa 1533 collection 1985 jack boucher photographer.
