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Photos: Aerial views of 6 major Philly projects under construction

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From the Comcast Tower to the W Hotel

It’s clear to the naked eye that Philadelphia is in the middle of a construction boom, with cranes scattered against the skyline and cement trucks camped out on what sometimes seems like every corner.

But while the average person witnesses construction progress on the ground, the occasional aerial view always helps put the utter scope and size of these projects in perspective. So behold, eight incredible aerial photos of major projects under construction in Philly and Camden right now, from the Comcast Innovation Technology Center, which will be the city’s first super-tall tower, to the W and Element Hotels at 15th and Chestnut.

CoStar, a commercial real estate information company, shared these images to Curbed Philly after their Cessna Grand Caravan took to the skies on September 12 and 13, 2016. The low-speed plane flies at 120 knots at an elevation of 2,500 feet and higher, taking high-res aerial images using a camera that’s mounted to the belly of the plane.

Comcast Innovation Technology Center

The second Comcast Tower, a 60-story, 1,121-foot tower designed by Foster + Partners will be home to technologists, engineers, and software architects—plus a Four Seasons Hotel. Construction will finish up in 2018.

19th and Chestnut

The Target has been opened for weeks now and construction has begun on the former Boyd Theater. But the site of the main 32-story, 406-foot residential tower remains inactive.

1213 Walnut (a.k.a. the Fergie Tower)

The 26-story Fergie Tower has been rising steadily since breaking ground, with what seems like a floor being poured every week. Paneling and glass have been installed on the lower levels, as well. Construction is expected to finish up in 2017.

500 Walnut

This photo captures a peek of Independence Hall in the corner, a view that the residents of 500 Walnut will have when they begin moving in spring of 2017. Developer Tom Scannapieco says a floor has been going up every week on the 26-story ultra-luxury residential tower and is expected to top off by the end of the year.

W and Element Hotels

After beginning construction in May 2015, the concrete has been poured at this site at 15th and Chestnut (the largest pour in the city’s history). When the hotels are complete in 2018, there will be a 295-room W Philadelphia and a 460-room Element Philadelphia Hotel.

Subaru Headquarters (Camden)

Subaru’s new headquarters broke ground across the Delaware River in Camden in December 2015. Construction on the $118M project is expected to be complete in 2017.