After the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society selected George Howe to build the company’s new headquarters in 1930, Howe successfully convinced the bank to accept his unconventional design. The result: the first International style skyscraper in the country — the 33-story PSFS Building — a true masterpiece.
The building is a striking achievement in early modernist form. From the granite-faced base of the building and the limestone covered tower above, to the interior details, which included Cartier-designed clocks and custom designed furniture, the building was a true pioneer in modernism when it was completed in 1932.
When the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society closed in 1992, the future of the National Historic Landmark was unclear. Fortunately in 1997, the Loews Corporation purchased the building, deciding to convert it into a hotel while preserving all the key features and details of the original design. Loews even chose to keep the signature rooftop PSFS sign in place.
Visiting
The Loews Philadelphia Hotel now occupies the PSFS building so many of the building's significant achievements in design are visitor accessible. In the lobby, the first floor vault was left intact while the dramatic main banking room on the second floor has been converted to an exhibition hall and ballroom. And the building’s central location two blocks from City Hall makes it an easy stop on your next visit.