Constructed in 1929 as a luxury hotel, the Drake was later converted into a luxury apartment building. But even the finest of fabrics can fade, and in 2000, Forest City Residential Management transformed the Drake's outdated units into modern apartments in a multimillion-dollar renovation. The property now features 280 apartment homes with amenities such as a 24-hour attended lobby, a fitness center, and concierge services. The building even houses dance studio space for the nearby University of the Arts, an undergraduate and graduate school offering classes in design, fine arts, crafts, dance, music, and theater arts.
But the Drake's most dramatic element is found in the building's tower and circular peak. There, the building's top six floors encompass 16 penthouses with spacious terraces, offering sweeping views of Philadelphia's Center City and the new Kimmel Center for Performing Arts.
Forest City manages the Drake, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
–Abby Garcia Telleria is a freelance writer in Costa Mesa, Calif.
