It won't be long before the newest addition to Philadelphia's skyline is bursting with activity.
The Cira Centre, a 29-story steel and glass complex located across from 30th Street Station, is scheduled for completion by Nov. 1.
What was originally a mezzanine level above the 28th floor was converted into extra office space.
When finished, the structure's anchor tenant, Dechert LLP, will occupy 240,000 square feet. The international law firm is relocating from its Center City quarters.
Besides the lead tenant, another law firm, Woodcock Washburn LLP; two money managers, BlackRock, Inc. and Attalus Capital; and SCA, a manufacturing company, will comprise two thirds of the building's office space. All five tenants are relocating from existing Philadelphia offices.
Despite the fact that these tenants are already established firms, Steve Rush, spokesman for the Brandywine Realty Trust -- the developer and owner of the Cira Centre -- says that more than 40 percent of the employees in the structure will be new hires.
"There's more firms coming in than relocating. It attracts a lot of companies from areas outside of Philadelphia that would otherwise never come," he said, adding that the Cira Centre's geographic location taps into the economic and labor potential of the area. "It's presenting new opportunities for students who would otherwise go to New York or Washington."
However, College senior Moira Moody pointed out that while the Cira Centre is a promising initiative to entice college graduates to stay in the area, it's not enough.
"It's a big step to start building something on this side of the river," she said. "But I don't think it's doing anything drastic immediately."
Indeed, the location may be insufficient to attract some.
Wharton freshman Matthew Curtis says that family, friends and career prospects are prime factors to consider when choosing where to work after college.
"The field that I want to go into is more well-known in New York," he added.
However, President Amy Gutmann said that "Penn students will stay in the area if there are good jobs here."
On a more positive note, Rush pointed out that even companies that are moving from existing locations to Cira are nevertheless adding to the job outgrowth because "jobs that could otherwise leave the city are given the opportunity to stay here."
So far, 93 percent of the building is leased out to tenants. Rush said that the construction budget was on target and tenant contracting were on schedule.
The building will also house an upscale and a casual dining restaurant, a fitness center, an public executive conference center and a Citizen's Bank branch.
The pedestrian bridge across Arch Street that is connected to 30th Street Station is in its final stages, with the finishing touches being put on the escalators.
Although the Cira Centre's glass facade might be a stranger to Philadelphia's relatively smooth skyline, Eugenie Birch, professor and chair of Penn's City and Regional Planning Department and co-director of the Institute for Urban Research, feels that the project will inspire future innovative architectural designs.
However, she said that she would like to see more pedestrians on the adjacent streets instead of the commuter bridge because it would increase traffic in the area.
