A historic hotel in the heart of downtown Philadelphia has a new life as a luxury residential building.
Originally opened in 1904 and dubbed the "Grand Dame of Broad Street," The Bellevue Hotel has been redesigned and renamed The Residences at The Bellevue, a 155-unit multifamily building with ground-floor dining and home to a premier fitness and social hub.
This redevelopment revitalized a cherished architectural icon and set new standards in adaptive reuse, economic revitalization and community impact, earning a 2025 CoStar Impact Award for redevelopment of the year in Philadelphia, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The challenge in this redevelopment was preserving its architectural integrity while introducing contemporary elements that cater to modern luxury living. Led by Studio Machado and Tantillo Architecture, the design team meticulously restored the building's historical elements, including classic moldings, bay windows and Art Deco-inspired lighting, while integrating white oak plank flooring and oil-rubbed bronze hardware to create a seamless blend of old and new. Behind the scenes, modern necessities such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems were integrated without disrupting the original aesthetic.
The Residences at The Bellevue offer exclusive access to The Sporting Club, a 10,000-square-foot fitness and social hub featuring an indoor track, pool, cafe, bar, workspaces and an indoor turf field. Residents enjoy complimentary membership, granting them access to private and group fitness classes, spa-like locker rooms, steam rooms and saunas for post-workout relaxation. Beyond the fitness center, residents benefit from 24/7 concierge services, ground-floor fine dining options and a fully equipped in-house podcast studio with audio and visual capabilities.
About the project: Revitalizing The Bellevue required overcoming significant challenges, including the complexities of preserving a historically significant structure while modernizing it for contemporary living. The team expertly navigated the delicate balance of restoration and innovation, ensuring that every update met both aesthetic and functional demands. Sourcing historically accurate materials and integrating modern building systems posed logistical challenges, but the developer, architect and contractor collaborated to execute a world-class restoration. The project also addressed urban mobility concerns.
What the judges said: "Thoughtful restoration of an iconic building on Broad Street in the heart of Center City. So crucial to reframing the narrative about Philadelphia's downtown trajectory and growth," noted Gina Lavery, executive vice president & principal, Econsult Solutions.
"It's such an important landmark on Broad Street and its revitalization is critical to the continued growth along the corridor. Transforming it into long-term residences will help to solidify foot traffic in the area on a less seasonal basis and provide a boost to surrounding businesses," said Mike McNelis, a regional manager with Outlook Management.
They made it happen: Christopher McElwee, president, Fastrack Construction; Christopher Tantillo, principal & owner, Tantillo Architecture; Dean Adler, CEO & co-founder, Ira Lubert, chairman & co-founder, Leonard Klehr, vice chairman of acquisitions and investments, Lubert-Adler; Fran Cassidy, general manager, The Sporting Club at The Bellevue; Tony Machad, senior vice president, head of design, Highgate Hotels; Joe Volpe, founder & CEO, Cescaphe.