clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Eight Architecturally Significant Rental Buildings in Philly

View as Map

Most rentals in Philly are rowhomes or subdivided rowhomes, but that doesn't mean that Philly is bereft of architecturally significant rentals for those looking for an aesthetically pleasing, interesting building to live in. Here's a map of eight of Philly's most architecturally interesting rentals.


If you feel your building ought to be included, or if you're enraged that we somehow missed your favorite edifice in the city, please do let us know. We may just include your intel in this map's next incarnation.

Read More

Society Hill Towers

Copy Link

Designed by I.M. Pei as part of an effort to reinvest in the Society Hill neighborhood, the Society Hill Towers offered 624 rental units until they were converted to condos in 1979. Though it's no longer a rental building, it's still a Philly landmark.

Guild House

Copy Link

Designed by Robert Venturi, the Guild house is an early example of postmodern architecture, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, even though it's much younger than most buildings on the list. It provides housing for low-income seniors, and was commissioned by a Quaker organization.

The Piazza

Copy Link

Though the Piazza has its share of critics, it is certainly one of Philly's landmark rental buildings. The Piazza, with its interior courtyard and mixed use design is hailed as a successful placemaking endeavor in Northern Liberties. [Photo by Laura Kicey]

Packard Motor Building

Copy Link

Once a showroom and assembly plant for Packard Automobiles, this North Broad loft building showcases the adaptive reuse trend sweeping the city. The elaborately ornamented building itself was built in 1910

The Touraine

Copy Link

Once a grand hotel, The Touraine was built to impress in 1917. Now it's a luxury apartment building with a unique penthouse at the top

The Drake

Copy Link

Before it was a luxury rental building, The Drake was a luxury hotel. The Art Deco building is stunning but unsubtle: the ornamentation includes images of "dolphins, shells, sailing vessels and globes."

The Modules at Templetown

Copy Link

This example of efficient contemporary architecture was built to house 180 Temple students. The building is significant mostly because of its modular efficiency, and because of its eco-friendliness.

Morgan Hall - Temple University

Copy Link

Temple's newest building, a student residence hall, is also North Philly's tallest tower. The mixed use building comes attached to an elevated lawn, and includes enough space for 1,275 students.

Loading comments...

Society Hill Towers

Designed by I.M. Pei as part of an effort to reinvest in the Society Hill neighborhood, the Society Hill Towers offered 624 rental units until they were converted to condos in 1979. Though it's no longer a rental building, it's still a Philly landmark.

Guild House

Designed by Robert Venturi, the Guild house is an early example of postmodern architecture, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, even though it's much younger than most buildings on the list. It provides housing for low-income seniors, and was commissioned by a Quaker organization.

The Piazza

Though the Piazza has its share of critics, it is certainly one of Philly's landmark rental buildings. The Piazza, with its interior courtyard and mixed use design is hailed as a successful placemaking endeavor in Northern Liberties. [Photo by Laura Kicey]

Packard Motor Building

Once a showroom and assembly plant for Packard Automobiles, this North Broad loft building showcases the adaptive reuse trend sweeping the city. The elaborately ornamented building itself was built in 1910

The Touraine

Once a grand hotel, The Touraine was built to impress in 1917. Now it's a luxury apartment building with a unique penthouse at the top

The Drake

Before it was a luxury rental building, The Drake was a luxury hotel. The Art Deco building is stunning but unsubtle: the ornamentation includes images of "dolphins, shells, sailing vessels and globes."

The Modules at Templetown

This example of efficient contemporary architecture was built to house 180 Temple students. The building is significant mostly because of its modular efficiency, and because of its eco-friendliness.

Morgan Hall - Temple University

Temple's newest building, a student residence hall, is also North Philly's tallest tower. The mixed use building comes attached to an elevated lawn, and includes enough space for 1,275 students.