The Block, Big box buildings sited on abandoned industrial lots can bring new retail amenities to historically underserved neighborhoods, but their associated surface parking lots can negatively impact urban street life. The Block, a 49-unit mixed-use multifamily building situated on an existing surface parking lot in Philadelphia’s Callowhill zone, bridges that gap, adding density and supporting pedestrian walkability while taking advantage of existing car-centric development in a novel typology.
© Sam Oberter
The Block was developed by the owners of the single-story warehouse immediately to the north, which was previously converted to house a local brewery and big box retail. The building lines the retail parking lot’s 5th Street frontage with live/work units and anchors its parking lot side with ground-floor retail. A pedestrian passageway cuts through the building at grade, and a social terrace occupies the roof above.
© Sam Oberter
The building incorporates an unusual approach to circulation, taking cues from Philadelphia’s rowhouse fabric. Minimizing interior corridors, the building relies instead on an elevated, landscaped deck as the primary access for upper-level walk-up units. The massing features apertures in both plan and section, opening unexpected views, enhancing pedestrian access, and fostering a sense of porosity across the building’s layered streetscape.
Project Info
Architects: ISA
Country: United States, Philadelphia
Area: 58200 ft²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Sam Oberter
Manufacturers Sherwin-Williams, Anderson 100, Bartco Lighting, DMF Lighting, Ecosense, Garden State Tile, Hamburger Roofing , Multi Housing Depot, Sioux City Brick, Tech Lighting: Sherwin-Williams
Developer: Alliance HP
General Contractor: Callahan Ward
Landscape Architects: Jonathan Alderson Landscape Architects, Inc
Structural Engineering: Cooke Brown Structural Engineers
MEP: Holstein White Inc
Civil Engineering: Bohler Engineering
Lighting Design: LAM PARTNERS
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.