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28-613: The Chateau Crillon Apartment House , also known as the Cohen Apartment House and the Rittenhouse 222 Apartments , is a historic high-rise building in the fashionable Rittenhouse Square section of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States. The 27-story building was designed by architect Horace Trumbauer in the Lombardic Romanesque style and completed in 1928. The style was perhaps suggested by

56-457: A major location. Limitless (2011) – A dive bar scene was filmed at a location near Rittenhouse Square. The Upside (2019) – Features several notable Philadelphia sites, including Rittenhouse Square. Silver Linings Playbook (2012) – Features various Philadelphia locations, including the square. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) – Some scenes shot in nearby areas include

84-734: A successful firm and was a founding member of the American Institute of Architects . Notman is credited with introducing the Italianate style to America. His design for "Riverside," the house built in Burlington, New Jersey in 1839, for Bishop Doane, was the first Italianate villa built in the United States overlooking the Delaware River. The 1845 Athenaeum of Philadelphia was the first Italianate building in

112-679: Is a bas-relief bust of J. William White done by R. Tait McKenzie . Billy , the goat was created by Philadelphian Albert Laessle, who also designed the Penguins statue at the Philadelphia Zoo . Residents are in the Albert M. Greenfield School catchment area for grades kindergarten through eight ; all persons assigned to Greenfield are zoned to Benjamin Franklin High School . Previously South Philadelphia High School

140-541: Is a popular dog walking destination for area residents, as was shown in the fictional film In Her Shoes . The Square was discussed in a favorable light by Jane Jacobs in her seminal work, The Death and Life of Great American Cities . The Rittenhouse neighborhood is home to many cultural institutions, including the Curtis Institute of Music , Philadelphia Youth Orchestra , the Ethical Society,

168-580: Is accessible via several forms of public transportation . All SEPTA Regional Rail lines stop at Suburban Station , about six blocks north and east of the Square. The PATCO Speedline , a rapid transit system connecting Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, has its western terminus at 16th and Locust Sts., two blocks east of the Square. The SEPTA 9, 12, 21, and 42 buses westbound run along Walnut Street. The 17 runs northbound along 20th Street and southbound along 19th Street and Rittenhouse Square West and

196-714: The Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. The success of this project led to additional projects in Virginia including improvements to Richmond's Capitol Square. In 1851, Notman designed the Prospect House and the Walter Lowrie House on the campus of Princeton University . He also designed and built Ivy Hall for Princeton University in 1847. In 1857, one of his last projects was

224-660: The National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1982, and on February 8, 1995. Rittenhouse Square Rittenhouse Square is a public park in Center City Philadelphia , Pennsylvania that is the center of the eponymous Rittenhouse neighborhood. The square is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during

252-663: The Philadelphia Art Alliance , the Rosenbach Museum & Library , Plays & Players , the Wine School of Philadelphia, and the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum. Delancey Place is a quiet, historical street lined with Civil War-era mansions and the setting for Hollywood movies, located only two blocks south of the square. The square is home to many works of public art. Among them

280-545: The 2 runs northbound along 16th Street and southbound along 17th Street. The SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley Lines have a station at 19th and Market Streets, two blocks north of the Square. The Walnut–Locust station on the Broad Street Subway is four blocks east. Trading Places (1983) – Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) pretends to be a blind cripple in the park. In Her Shoes (2005) – Scenes were filmed throughout Philadelphia, with Rittenhouse Square as

308-464: The Italianate gatehouse at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notman died on October 3, 1865 and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery . His early death was reportedly accelerated by alcoholism. After his death, his architectural firm continued for several years under his protege George Hewitt . A plaque was added near his gravestone in 1998 when Laurel Hill was designated

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336-510: The Square to resemble Paris and the French gardens, adding classical entryways and stone additions to railings, pools, and fountains. After World War II , Rittenhouse Square's Victorian mansions began to be replaced with high-rise residential and office buildings such as Claridge and Savoy. Vacant lots were converted to apartments and hotels. Still, some prominent Italianate and Art Deco buildings remain, and Rittenhouse Square has changed

364-430: The area around the park. The Wrestler (2008) – Key scenes use the park as a backdrop. Creed (2015) – Honors the “Rocky” legacy with scenes near the square. Twelve Monkeys (1995) – Bruce Willis's character visits various Philly landmarks, including near the park. Philadelphia (1993) – Tom Hanks's Oscar-winning role features scenes in and near the square. National Treasure (2004) – Some scenes show

392-546: The city directory as a carpenter then as an architect. He returned to Scotland in 1833 to move his mother and siblings to America. He met John Jay Smith who helped him obtain a contract to construct a building for the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1835. He was selected to design and build the Roman Doric gatehouse, landscaping, cottage and chapel at Laurel Hill Cemetery . Notman's design for Laurel Hill

420-640: The city grew steadily from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River , it became obvious that Rittenhouse Square would become a highly desirable address. James Harper , a merchant and brick manufacturer who had recently retired from the United States Congress, was the first person to build on the square, buying most of the north frontage, erecting a stately townhouse for himself at 1811 Walnut Street (c. 1840). Having thus set

448-892: The city. Many of his designs for churches were dictated by the ideas of the Cambridge Camden Society who suggested that Anglican churches of the Low church variety should be built in the Romanesque style, while those of the High church variety be built in the Gothic style. He was also briefly employed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia during construction of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul until an argument over

476-534: The first paper-maker in Philadelphia, the German immigrant William Rittenhouse . William Rittenhouse's original paper-mill site is known as Rittenhousetown , located in the rural setting of Fairmount Park along Paper Mill Run . David Rittenhouse was a clockmaker and friend of the American Revolution , as well as a noted astronomer; a lunar crater is named after him. In the early 19th century, as

504-543: The late 17th century. Together with Fitler Square , the Rittenhouse neighborhood and the square comprise the Rittenhouse–Fitler Historic District. Rittenhouse Square is maintained by the non-profit group The Friends of Rittenhouse Square. The square cuts off 19th Street at Walnut Street and also at a half-block above Manning Street. Its boundaries are 18th Street to the east, Walnut Street to

532-781: The least out of the city's initial squares. Journalist and author Jane Jacobs wrote about two main ideas in Cret's redesign: intricacy and centering. In the mid-20th century, the park became known as a safe area for gays and lesbians to meet in Center City . Rittenhouse Square is surrounded by high rise residences, luxury apartments, an office tower, restaurants, and other businesses and residences. Its green grasses and dozens of benches are popular lunch-time destinations for residents and workers in Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood , while its lion and goat statues are popular gathering spots for small children and their parents. The park

560-594: The newly built Shelton Hotel in New York City, designed by A. L. Harmon. There are setbacks on the 17th and 24th floors. The developer was Louis H. Cahan, who also built the Locust Street Theater building at Broad & Locust Sts., The Mitten Building (now The Philadelphia Building) at Juniper and Walnut Sts., and The Mayfair House in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. It was listed on

588-409: The north, and Rittenhouse Square West, a north–south boundary street, and Rittenhouse Square South, an east–west boundary street, making the park approximately two short blocks on each side. Locust Street borders Rittenhouse Square to both its east and west in the middle of the square. Originally called Southwest Square, Rittenhouse Square was renamed in 1825 after David Rittenhouse , a descendant of

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616-676: The park's surroundings. The Sixth Sense (1999) – Locations around Rittenhouse contribute to the film's ambiance. The Age of Innocence (1993) – Historic sites, including Rittenhouse Square, appear for authenticity. The Happening (2008) – M. Night Shyamalan's thriller used several Philly landmarks, including the park. Beloved (1998) – Includes exterior shots around Philadelphia and near Rittenhouse. Marley & Me (2008) – Some scenes were filmed near Broad and Walnut streets, close to Rittenhouse. Law Abiding Citizen (2009) – Intense scenes filmed near Rittenhouse Square. Rocky II (1979) – The iconic training montage features

644-915: The patrician residential tone that would subsequently define the Square, he divided the rest of the land into generously proportioned building lots and sold them. Sold after the congressman's death, the Harper house became the home of the exclusive Rittenhouse Club , which added the present facade in c. 1901. From 1876 to 1929, Rittenhouse Square was home to several wealthy families including Pennsylvania Railroad president Alexander Cassatt , real estate entrepreneur William Weightman III , department store founder John Wanamaker , Philadelphia planning commission director Edmund Bacon and his son, actor Kevin Bacon , as well as others. Elegant churches and clubs were constructed by John Notman and Frank Furness . In 1913, French architect Paul Philippe Cret redesigned parts of

672-685: The square's surroundings. Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020) – The series prominently features the square in its episodes. Rittenhouse Square (2022) – A film that pays tribute to the park’s cultural significance. Mannequin (1987) – Features key scenes shot at various Philadelphia locations, including around Rittenhouse Square. John Notman Notman was born on July 22, 1810, in The Canongate district of Edinburgh , Scotland, to David and Mary (Christie) Notman. He spent much of his childhood in Lasswade , south of Edinburgh. He

700-602: The terms of his contract resulted in his dismissal. In 1845, Notman designed a three-stepped office wing addition to the north side of the New Jersey State House . Notman was also the architect of the highly influential New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum in Trenton, New Jersey of 1847. This building was the first example of the Kirkbride Plan in asylum design. In 1848, Notman was selected to design

728-722: Was educated at the Watt Institution in Edinburgh. He apprenticed for four years as a carpenter and built country houses in the Scottish highlands and Northern Ireland. Sometime around 1824, Notman joined his older cousin, William Notman to train as an architect in the office of William Henry Playfair in Edinburgh prior to emigrating to the United States in 1831. He settled in Philadelphia and first appears in

756-576: Was selected over more experienced architects including William Strickland and Thomas Ustick Walter . In the late 1830s, he was hired for landscape design at several country estates. His work at Nathan Dunn 's estate, known as "The Cottage", in Mount Holly, New Jersey , drew acclaim from Andrew Jackson Downing . Other notable landscape design projects were completed for the estates of Richard Stockton Field , Joshua Francis Fisher , George Washington Doane and Jay Cooke . He opened and operated

784-546: Was the neighborhood's zoned high school. The Curtis Institute of Music , University of the Arts , and Peirce College are all in the Rittenhouse neighborhood. The Free Library of Philadelphia operates the Philadelphia City Institute on the first floor and lower level of an apartment complex at 1905 Locust Street ; the apartment building is known as 220 West Rittenhouse Square . Rittenhouse Square

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