21-story office tower proposed for downtown Allentown
A local developer said he will be changing the skyline of Allentown with a proposed 21-story glass commercial building he’s proposed for Hamilton and 8th Streets.
The 326-foot-tall building will be known as Ideal tower.
Developer John Pequeno, president of Ideal Tower LLC said the building will provide “innovative workspace” for professional tenants.
“We are proud to announce the creation of a new keystone building in Allentown’s City Center. It will be the tallest in the region at over 326 feet,” said Pequeno. “We are excited to welcome the most forward-thinking organizations to enjoy all the modern amenities our property has to offer, such as flexible layouts, open air spaces including a restaurant, co-working areas, and a shared auditorium.”
The project would bring 330,000 square feet of office space to the city. The building was designed by architectural firm Gensler, which worked with the developer to create a building that would pay tribute to Allentown’s past as one of the world’s top silk producers by creating a building silhouette inspired by the soft lines of a roll of silk fabric.
A major goal for the building is “bringing the outside in.”
Within the building’s lobby, a green wall will immediately greet visitors, while along the tower’s façade, terraces will allow tenants access to the outdoors from their offices.
There will be an open-air market, bar and restaurant that are all open to the outside.
“With businesses continuing to transition back to office in an effort to boost productivity and collaboration, now is the time to step up their office space offering, keeping employees satisfied and motivated,” said Pequeno.
He said the building can support a variety of floor plans so tenants can design their spaces with a mixture of private office and open seating, while the “flexible core” also allows for personalization of amenity layouts.
Each floor has a 15,490-square-foot floorplate, customizable to tenant preference. Pequeno said that he believes Ideal Tower will be a great fit for professional organizations in industries such as engineering, legal, and financial services.