1900 Rittenhouse Square Apartments
Why it's listed
Built between 1923 and 1926 by the New York firm Sugarman, Hess and Berger, this nineteen-story apartment house rises above the south side of Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Its lower four stories are sheathed in limestone in a Regency manner, while the shaft above is faced in yellow-gray brick made to resemble the base. The building has two apartments per floor and a roof terrace. Its entrance leads into an oval lobby with paired stone Corinthian pilasters and a sunburst in the terrazzo floor, and its elevator lobby is finished in polished stone and brass. The nomination regards it as an important urban gesture, because its height and proportions respond to the older apartment house across 19th Street and together the two buildings frame the Square's southern entrance. It is also cited as the work that drew further apartment construction to Rittenhouse Square in the following years. The building is a notable example of luxury high-rise apartment design in 1920s Philadelphia.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is important as one of a pair of classicizing tall buildings framing the principal entrance to Rittenhouse Square, and as the project that drew apartment development to the Square. Its Regency revival design, interiors such as the oval lobby and reception room, and its relationship to the neighboring tower are cited as evidence of the architects' talent. The reviewer noted it as a significant example of luxury high-rise apartment design in 1920s Philadelphia.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003805, listed July 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1900 S. Rittenhouse Sq., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | July 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003805 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Sugarman, Hess and Berger |
| Architectural style | Regency revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states the building is in generally excellent condition with major spaces intact and original detail in place. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Center City West Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.94847, -75.17299 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003805.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4557749
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.