Have you heard the hourly chimes ringing out from One South Broad? This art deco masterpiece has a story to tell. One South Broad stands tall as a 28-story office tower. It graces Center City Philadelphia.
In 1932, One South Broad was completed. Architect John Torrey Windrim designed it as an annex for Wanamaker’s department store. Imagine stepping into Wanamaker’s Men’s Store. It occupied the first seven floors. It rivaled European department stores in size and selection.
Later, in 1952, the Philadelphia National Bank, PNB, bought the building. It transformed the space into offices and banking areas. For decades, the bell tower boasted PNB’s initials. These stainless steel letters stood 16 feet tall.
Now, Wells Fargo is the main tenant of One South Broad. The street level space has transformed. What was once a bank is now retail and restaurant space since 2000.
One South Broad is more than just offices and stores. It holds 465,000 square feet of space. A three-story gallery lobby connects it to the Widener Building.
Let’s go back in time. In the late 1920s, Philadelphia was booming with high-rises. Wanamaker’s decided to expand. They envisioned a store catering to the Philadelphia gentleman. William L. Nevin, Wanamaker’s President, spearheaded the project.
Two 13-story buildings were demolished. The Lincoln Building and the Liberty Building made way for the Lincoln-Liberty Building. This new building intended to house a men’s department store and offices.
The Wanamaker Men’s Store opened in 1932. Buglers announced the opening. The Founder’s Bell rang out. Even during the Great Depression, Wanamaker’s showed faith in the economy. The store stocked up on US2 million worth of merchandise. It was the largest of its kind.
In the early 1950s, PNB needed more space. They purchased the Lincoln-Liberty Building. The bank modernized the building. They added a sign with PNB’s initials in 1955.
The building changed hands over the years. PNB became CoreStates. First Union Corp, Wachovia, and finally Wells Fargo followed. In 1996, the JPMorgan Strategic Property Fund bought it. In 1998, renovations began, and the building was renamed One South Broad.
The 24th and 25th floors once held a penthouse. Rodman Wanamaker designed it for himself and his wife. It featured five bedrooms, six baths, and outdoor terraces. Wanamaker passed away before it was completed. His wife lived there briefly. She disliked the ringing bell. In 2000, the penthouse became office space.
Until 2014, the PNB initials stood proudly. The letters even served as a weather indicator. Red meant warming. Green meant the opposite. In 2014, a helicopter removed the letters.
Inside the bell tower of One South Broad, you will find the Founder’s Bell. Rodman Wanamaker commissioned it to honor his father John. Cast in England, it weighs 17 tons. It traveled by ship and rail.
The Founder’s Bell originally hung in the Wanamaker Building. It now rings hourly at One South Broad except on Sundays. Its sound travels for 25 miles. Many mistake it for City Hall’s bell.
Leopold Stokowski, a conductor, praised its sound. In 2000, the Founder’s Bell joined the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
One South Broad has seen many tenants. Wanamaker’s Men’s Store, PNB, and now Wells Fargo have all called it home. Today, One South Broad continues to stand as a testament to Philadelphia’s history. Its art deco design and ringing bell make it a city landmark.