One Frankford

• Philadelphia, PA

• 78-unit, 7 story apartment building

• 69,160sf

• completed Fall 2025

• project website: One Frankford

developer: Archive Development Group

general contractor: Tester Construction Group

structural engineer: StructureLabs

landscape designer: Urban Jungle Designs

exterior photographer: Jeffrey Totaro

interior photographer: Jason Varney

Located at the gateway to the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia and across the street from Philadelphia landmark The Filmore, ONE FRANKFORD sits at the intersection of Frankford Avenue and Delaware Avenue. 

The design is directly inspired by multiple layers of history. Philadelphia is a brick city, founded on a bed of rich clay brick has been used for the City's humblest townhomes to its most significant historical and modern buildings. Fishtown's industrial roots are still evident in the many loft like buildings that remain in the area. Here we used large loft-like windows hint at the historical, industrial use of the neighborhood while flooding the units generous amounts of natural light combined with gracious layouts to create welcoming apartments.  

Traditional brick detailing in white brick is used throughout the design, deeply recessed arches on the lower level are true brick arches, while brick corbels articulate the vertical orientation of the the windows. All brick here is perfectly coursed with a mix of standard running bond with accents of soldier coursing and stacked bond rowlocks.

Brick was brought to the inside of the large entry lobby with its reception desk, package area and glowing cube shared seating space. Other amenities include a generous gym, lounge space, and a fully fit out roof deck with spectacular views of the Delaware river and the City skyline.

The sites unique footprint allowed us to create a pocket park along Frankford Avenue adjacent to the trolley turn around, this park is a public amenity that highlights the residential and commercial entries to the building. The freeform design of the planters in weathering steel are a dynamic juxtaposition to the rigid grid and pristine white brick of the building. The commercial space on the ground floor wraps from Frankford Avenue to the full width of Delaware Avenue and awaits a vibrant future tenant to further activate this significant corner.

Our intent here was to create a traditional but still modern building that serves as a welcoming beacon to the neighborhood.