Design Profile: Hyatt Centric Philadelphia

The HYATT Centric Hotel, located at the southeast corner of 17th and Chancellor Streets in Center City Philadelphia, replaced a three-story parking garage. Each HYATT Centric Hotel is designed to reflect its urban location, local culture and style. The 13-story building features 332 guest rooms, a multi-level lobby, a restaurant and bar, a social lounge, a small banquet/meeting facility, and a fitness center. 

The site is surrounded by several large early 20th century buildings, including the Warwick Hotel, a 20-story brick building, and 1616 Walnut, now called “The ICON”, an early 1900s 25-story brick and terracotta “Art Deco” hi-rise. The HYATT Centric, smaller by comparison, was designed to maximize the impression of height and to reflect the vertical expression of the “Art Deco” hi-rise era. 

The Hyatt Centric’s ground floor is defined by a pre-cast colonnade with full height glazing that forms the building’s base. Above the corner and extending upward to the top floor, the building mass has been carved to provide openness — light and air — to the street. This corner also features a second-level rooftop garden. Faceted façade panels create an angular three-dimensional rhythm that changes as you approach the building. Materials include gray iron spot brick, textural precast concrete panels, light bronze and stainless trim, and lightly tinted glass. The HYATT Centric is a LEED Silver Certified Project. 

Project: Burk-Bergman Boathouse 

Location: Center City, Philadelphia 

Client: Hyatt 

Project Size: 190,000 square feet 

Project Team:  

DAS Architects, Inc. (Architect)  

Crème Design (Interior Design)  

Bohler Engineering (Civil Engineer)  

Harman Group (Structural Engineer)  

Bala Consulting Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) 

Construction Company, Inc (General Contractor) 

Bill Curran Design (Architectural Metalwork) 

The Lighting Practice (Lighting Consultant) 

Exterior Photos: Courtesy of Hyatt inc.  
Interior Photos: Crème Design/DAS Architects Inc.