The All-New Four Seasons Philadelphia At Comcast Center With Signature Restaurants By Jean-Georges Vongerichten And Greg Vernick Is Accepting Reservations For Arrivals Beginning August 12, 2019

The all-new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center is located atop the 1,121 foot (342 metre) Comcast Technology Center in the city’s vibrant downtown, offering unobstructed views from the 48th to 60th floors at the building’s very summit.  The 219-room Hotel, which also includes new restaurant concepts by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Greg Vernick, a full-floor spa and wellness sanctuary and extensive meeting spaces, is now accepting reservations from arrivals starting on August 12, 2019.

“The history and culture of Philadelphia are so often expressed in the characteristic storytelling of its art and architecture. Now, thanks to the vision of our partners at Comcast and a world-class team of designers, architects and artists, the Comcast Technology Center stands tall as a new Philadelphia landmark – reshaping the city’s skyline and signifying a new, exciting chapter in its storied history,” says Christian Clerc, President, Worldwide Hotel Operations, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

“Guests will be in awe from the moment they step into the glass elevators on their swift journey to the 60th floor sky lobby, as they look out over the unobstructed cityscape from their dinner table at Jean-Georges Philadelphia, or swim up to the edge of the 57th floor infinity pool. We quite literally upend the traditional idea of a hotel and provide visitors with breath-taking experiences as they move through venues in our spectacular building,” adds Ben Shank, the Hotel’s General Manager, whose Four Seasons career began in the city 20 years ago.

“As we countdown to our grand opening this summer, we look forward to welcoming guests to our Hotel and vibrant dining and lounge concepts – extraordinary spaces for locals and global travellers alike to connect and experience the world of Four Seasons.”

High Tech, High Touch: Experience Four Seasons at Comcast Center

Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the new Comcast Technology Center has redefined the skyline of one of America’s most storied cities.

Visitors are soon reminded of the relationship between innovation and nature as they are greeted by stunning installations from celebrity floral designer Jeff Leatham, who is the Artistic Director of the Hotel.  Moments after check in, guests enter one of 180 rooms and 39 suites to find yet another expression of art and technology in Philadelphia Dorian, a composition of on-screen video and sound created exclusively for Four Seasons by musician, record producer and visual artist Brian Eno.

In partnership with Comcast, all guest rooms and suites will offer the award winning X1 Video Experience, including approximately 300 channel options and a complimentary library of more than 50,000 movies and shows on demand, all searchable with the X1 voice remote.

Above It All: Dining and Drinking at Four Seasons

On the 59th floor, the city of Philadelphia spreads out toward the horizon on all sides of Jean-Georges Philadelphia,a new restaurant by Michelin starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.  Forty foot (12 metre) high glass walls afford panoramic city views, while a cleverly mirrored ceiling reflects both the diners below and the city that surrounds them.  It’s an inspiring location for a power breakfast or a lunch-time refuge from the busy streets below, and the restaurant promises to be the pinnacle of dining in the city as sunsets give way to sparkling evenings.

Up a grand staircase flanked by waterfalls that bisect the space, Foster gives patrons an opportunity to literally raise a toast higher than ever before at JG SkyHigh cocktail bar on the 60th floor.

On ground level, James Beard award winner and hometown hero Chef Greg Vernick highlights his unique approach to modern American dining at Vernick Fish, which spills into the street in an easy indoor-outdoor environment created by Tihany Design, their first project in the city. Chef Vernick refers to the restaurant concept as a modern take on an American oyster bar, with unexpected flavour combinations featuring the freshest fish and shellfish accompanied by cool cocktails and wines.

Chef Vernick has also partnered with Four Seasons to bring Vernick Coffee Bar to the second floor lobby of the Comcast Technology Center. A to-go bakery and barista bar, the restaurant includes a full-service 42-seat café offering Chef Vernick’s signature global flavours.

Spa and Wellness Centre at Four Seasons

Encompassing the entire 57th floor, the Spa is a sanctuary of wellness. The Spa includes a lifestyle boutique, fitness centre created in consultation with celebrity fitness guru Harley Pasternak, and a spectacular 30,000-gallon (136,000 litre) indoor infinity pool.

Spa Director Verena Lasvigne-Fox has created an inspiring wellness menu incorporating top products exclusive to Philadelphia. Coupled with the rhythmic and meditative sounds of singing crystal bowls, the effect will be one of pure bliss and relaxation among the clouds. Lasvigne-Fox is an award-winning Spa Director with more than 15 years’ experience overseeing up to 16 spas for Four Seasons across Europe and the Middle East.

Meet Me at Four Seasons

More than 15,000 square feet (1,400 square metres) of flexible function spaces – including two ballrooms easily accessed on the fifth floor – offer a canvas on which to create all manner of business and social events, from high tech conferences and private board meetings to glittering galas and society weddings.  The Hotel’s expert planners partner with the culinary team led by Executive Chef Maxime Michaud to tailor worry-free events hosting 25 to 500 guests.

Wedding couples and event planners may inquire about facilities and site tours by calling +1 215 419 5000.

Experience One of America’s Most Exciting Cities in an Entirely New Way

The lobby of the Comcast Technology Center is an artistic passage between city and skyscrapers, with distinct and custom art installations continuing Philadelphia’s longstanding reputation as a hub of art and ideas. Across the ceiling and up the stairs, artist Jenny Holzer has created For Philadelphia, a moving installation of nine electronic displays designed specifically for this site.  The writings of poets, architects, visionaries and children echo the spirit of the city flowing colourfully throughout the space.  Also within the vast atrium is the largest public art commission by British artist Conrad Shawcross, titled Exploded Paradigm, which sees the artist continuing to explore the tetrahedron and exploit its possibilities, a fitting concept for both Comcast and Four Seasons.

Located in the heart of Center City and just minutes from the Barnes Foundation, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Rittenhouse Square and The Liberty Bell, the unmatched location of Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and the Comcast Center Campus allows business and leisure travellers to experience all that the city has to offer.

This summer and fall, the new Four Seasons is the perfect place from which to explore Philadelphia for the first time, or all over again. The smash Broadway hit Hamilton is finally coming to the city where much of its namesake’s story took place, and the new Franklin Square Fountain Show will soon debut. From historic sites to the latest happenings in the city, Four Seasons is a gateway to discover it all.

Be one of the first: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia is now accepting reservations and confirming arrivals beginning August 12, 2019.  Reservations can be made by calling 1 800 819 5053 or by booking online.

AKA University City In Philadelphia Announces Internationally-Renowned Design Partner Piero LissoniI; Ultra-Luxury Residences Opening Summer 2016

AKA, the innovative global brand of luxury serviced residences, today announced its partnership with internationally renowned Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni. This dynamic collaboration comes as a part of Philadelphia’s most anticipated new project, AKA University City located at 30^th and Walnut.

Rising above the Philadelphia skyline, the residences at AKA University City lie at the heart of Cira Centre South—Brandywine Realty Trust’s groundbreaking 830,000 square foot mixed-use building and Philadelphia’s first vertical neighborhood. The upper 19 stories of the tower will feature brand new ultra-luxury residential offerings ranging from hotel suites to apartment residences along with Level 28, an entire floor dedicated to wellness, as well as lifestyle-enhancing amenities and services. Piero Lissoni Associati’s interior design for AKA University City will seamlessly complement the building’s architectural vision, imagined and executed by architectural firms Pelli Clarke Pelli and BLTa.

 “Piero Lissoni is undoubtedly the ideal design partner for this world-class project. Lissoni’s distinct minimalistic approach and mastery of proportion is harmonious with the AKA brand’s architecture and design philosophy that translates throughout all of our accommodations around the globe. Lissoni is celebrated around the world for never designing for a specific function or purpose, but for his ability to design for human beings,” said Larry Korman, President of AKA.

In a forward-thinking approach to engaging different tastes and preferences, the furnished residences at AKA University City will maintain a unified style, though each residence will vary slightly – evoking different moods and emotion. With daily, weekly and monthly offerings – the variations allow AKA guests the opportunity for personalization and the experience to choose their own space that feels most like “home.”  Variations will range from furniture pieces to the small but distinct details of the upholstery and fabrics. 

A streamlined sensibility of timeless elegance and sophistication is united by the finest materials in the world. The Lissoni team spent hours with Italy’s leading furniture manufacturers to hand-select the highest-quality materials and textiles—from the distinct grains of wood to the fabrics in natural materials including wool, linen and cotton. Sculptural, intimate lighting from Italy’s top manufacturers is a key component to Lissoni’s distinctive design mood within each space.  

“We are honored to be selected as the design partner for such a special space in Philadelphia history. With AKA’s unique model of offerings, the exciting challenge is to create an ambience that is homey enough for a person who is staying for a longer period, as opposed to a single day experience in a hotel room; and at the same time you have to create something that is interesting and different,” said Nicoletta Canesi, Co-founder of Piero Lissoni Associati. “We’re able to bring emotion into the residences by mixing different materials and styles with each space, inspired by AKA’s world-traveler guests. The bedrock of the design is Italian, of course, but the décor elements are more global.”

Located on floors 29 through 46, the residences at AKA University City boast expansive 10-foot ceilings and some of the city’s highest and most striking panoramic views. The spacious studio, one- and two-bedroom, and Penthouse residences feature wide-plank Italian white oak flooring accompanied by open living and dining areas ideal for entertaining. Kitchens are clad in custom Italian cabinetry, with premium stainless steel appliances.

An entire club level for resident wellness, relaxation and enjoyment has been designed by Lissoni, which includes an indoor 72-foot aerial pool; AKA’s signature amenity, a.lounge, which opens onto a.terrace, a four-season greenscaped oasis with endless sightlines and cozy fire pits soaring 400 feet above street level; a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness center;  private dining and conference areas; a.cinema, a private theater with fully automated leather seating, complete surround sound, an extensive film library and curated film screenings; advanced business center services; and a 3-D indoor golf simulator. Best-in-class amenities will also include a soon-to-be-announced nationally-acclaimed indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar, and Cira Green - the city’s first elevated park.

AKA University City is expected to open summer 2016. For additional information on AKA University City, visit stayaka.com. To learn more about Brandywine Realty Trust, visit brandywinerealty.com.

ABOUT THE TEAM:

AKA, a division of Korman Communities, comprises a curated portfolio of luxury serviced residences in prestigious metropolitan locations including New York City, Philadelphia, Beverly Hills, Washington, D.C. and London. Designed for long stay comfort and value, AKA balances the style and hospitality of an intimate hotel with the space and comfort of a fully-appointed luxury condominium. To learn more,

visit stayaka.com.

Korman Communities carries forward a name synonymous with integrity, market savvy and proven performance in the real estate development and investment arenas. Korman’s reputation reflects four generations of dedication and business acumen, resulting in the construction of more than 30,000 single-family homes and 12,000 apartments and townhouses.

Piero Lissoni opened the Lissoni Associati studio together with Nicoletta Canesi in 1986 and since then the 75-person firm has been recognized as one of the world's leading architectural studios, renowned for refined Italian furniture design as well as striking hospitality projects across the globe.

Brandywine Realty Trust has set the standard for innovation in real estate over the past 20 years, creating new solutions and anticipating the future, evolving from initial ownership of four office buildings to now delivering and managing some of the nation's most remarkable properties. The Cira Centre South neighborhood is one such example—a visionary development offering an elevated tenant and resident

experience while energizing its surrounding community.

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects has designed many of the world’s most recognizable buildings, including the World Financial Center in New York, the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, and the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong. Its award-winning portfolio includes retail and mixed-use projects, academic buildings, libraries, museums, research centers, res­idences and master plans. Pelli Clarke Pelli has been honored with critical acclaim and hundreds of design awards, including the American Institute of Architects’ most prestigious honor for an architectural practice, the Firm Award.