The latest in a series of landscape improvements at The Philadelphian includes upgrades to the front-facing experience of the 1963 Philadelphia Parkway condo building. Following the removal of several structurally compromised Red Oak and Zelkova trees, Sikora Wells Appel and CBP Architects designed updated entry walkways and six tree wells to hold six specimen trees. These beautiful multi-stem understory trees were hand-selected for their sculptural quality and will grow to provide the same much-needed shade to the walkways.
Other recent happenings include the planting of eleven young trees, each one a unique species, in the front Woodland Garden by The Philadelphian Landscape Committee, and the addition of four more trees as part of the Entry Walkway project. All in all, twenty-one new and different trees have been planted in front of this iconic building in 2026, beautifying not only the immediate grounds, but also contributing to the biodiversity and image of the greater Philadelphia Parkway. In the near future, the Committee plans to plant the entryway beds and the former lawn (now mulch) in the Woodland Garden with an array of native shrubs, perennials, and grasses.
These projects have been guided by the Philadelphian Landscape Master Plan, developed by Sikora Wells Appel in conjunction with the Landscape Committee with the intent of steering The Philadelphian toward a greener future. This Master Plan promotes a naturalized landscape not only for its aesthetic quality, but for its ecological value. Native plant species support local wildlife, from butterflies to birds. Additionally, plants grow best in the conditions under which they evolved, meaning species planted within their native range will require less maintenance, including fewer chemical treatments and less irrigation. Lawn is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to water and pesticide use. By replacing the lawn areas with native perennials and shrubs, The Philadelphian can scale back maintenance practices with negative environmental impact.
One of the goals of the Master Plan is to develop an “urban woodland” condition. While some existing plants needed to be removed, many mature heritage trees still remain. By planting new trees now, while these trees are still healthy, The Philadelphian is investing in its future. Ideally, by the time existing mature trees reach the end of their lifecycle, these plantings will have reached maturity so that they can fill in the gaps where trees need to be removed. A successional planting strategy will allow for a continuously mature and thriving landscape within an urban context. The Master Plan also emphasizes the importance of establishing an ongoing relationship with an arborist, so that the trees on site can be properly maintained in order to prolong their lifespans.
