Penn Convention Center Gets Demo Go-ahead
-- Tradeshow Week, 2/4/2008
The Pennsylvania Convention Center expansion in Philadelphia will continue, following a judge's recent ruling that two historic buildings on the proposed site could be razed.
The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, which sought the injunction that stopped the demolition of the buildings in December, won't appeal the judge's decision, said John Andrew Gallery, executive director of the group.
“That's the decision we've made, but a lot of people are contacting me now wishing we would change our mind,” he added.
Commonwealth Court Judge Keith B. Quigley issued an opinion Jan. 22 that removed the injunction two days before a hearing was scheduled on the demolition of the buildings.
Convention center officials didn't return calls for comment by press time.
According to a 2004 agreement between the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the buildings were to be incorporated into the facade of the convention center's $700 million expansion, Gallery said.
The building used to house the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co., and a more modern addition was designed by architect Romaldo Giurgola, Gallery said.
Work on the expansion is being done by the Pennsylvania Dept. of General Services, and will include an additional 260,000 square feet of exhibit space and 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
