You’ve probably seen it. If you’ve spent any time walking the quiet, leafy streets just off Philadelphia’s most famous park, you can’t miss that slender, glass-clad tower rising above the historic brick townhomes. It’s 1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA. It isn't just another high-rise; it's basically the gold standard for what "quiet wealth" looks like in the city.
Most people think living on Rittenhouse means an old-school pre-war building with creaky elevators and a doorman who knew your grandfather. 1706 changed that whole vibe.
When it was completed around 2010, it was a massive gamble. The developers, Scannapieco Development Corporation and Parkway Corporation, decided to build a "boutique" skyscraper. That sounds like a contradiction, right? But it worked. They built 31 stories but only 24 units. Do the math. That is one residence per floor. Total privacy. No awkward hallway small talk with neighbors you barely know.
What makes 1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA actually different?
Honestly, it’s the tech you can't see.
While other luxury condos brag about their marble lobbies—and yeah, the lobby here is gorgeous—the real flex at 1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA is the automated parking system. It was the first of its kind in a Philly residential building. You pull your car into a lift, hop out, and the system whisks it away into an underground vault. No valets touching your steering wheel. No searching for a spot in a cramped garage. When you're ready to leave, you call the car from a kiosk in your unit or the lobby. It’s back in about two minutes.
That might sound like a gimmick, but in a neighborhood where parking is a literal nightmare, it’s a game-changer.
Then there’s the layout. Because each unit occupies an entire floor, you get 360-degree views. You can watch the sunrise over the Delaware River from your kitchen and see the sunset over the University City skyline from your living room. The floor plates are roughly 4,200 square feet. That’s huge for a condo. It feels more like a suburban mansion that just happens to be floating 200 feet in the air.
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The "Full Floor" Lifestyle
Living in a full-floor unit changes how you move through your day.
There are no shared walls. None. You can crank your home theater at midnight and the person below you won't hear a peep because the floor slabs are thick and engineered for silence. The elevator opens directly into your private foyer. It’s a level of security that attracts the city’s power players—CEOs, star athletes (a few Phillies and Sixers have called this place home over the years), and surgeons who just want to go home and be left alone.
The balconies are actually usable, too. They’re recessed into the building’s footprint, so you don't feel like you’re dangling off a ledge. You can sit out there with a coffee and look down at the treetops of Rittenhouse Square without feeling the wind whip your hair into a frenzy.
The neighborhood factor: Why this specific block?
Location is everything, but 1706 is tucked away on the 1700 block of Rittenhouse Street. It’s technically half a block off the actual square.
This is a strategic win.
If you live directly on the square, you deal with the noise of the buses, the Saturday farmers market crowds, and the general hum of thousands of people. By being just a few doors down, 1706 gets the "Park Adjacent" status without the "Park Noise." You’re thirty seconds away from a steak at Barclay Prime or a glass of wine at Parc, but your front door is on a much quieter, more residential-feeling street.
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Architecture and Design Nuances
Cecil Baker + Partners were the architects behind this, and they went for a timeless look. They used a lot of glass, but they framed it in a way that doesn't feel like a cold office building.
- The floor-to-ceiling windows are high-performance glass.
- The building’s narrow profile allows for maximum light penetration.
- Interior finishes typically include brands like Bulthaup for kitchens and Dornbracht for fixtures, though since these are individual homes, many owners have customized them extensively.
Is it the newest building in the city? No. The Laurel and Arthaus have since joined the skyline. But 1706 has this "OG" modern luxury status that keeps its resale values incredibly high. While newer buildings are cramming hundreds of units into a tower, the scarcity at 1706 keeps it exclusive. You can't just "buy" your way in whenever you want; you have to wait for someone to leave. And people don't leave often.
Realities of the Market
Let's talk money, because you don't live at 1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA on a budget.
Condo fees here are substantial. We're talking several thousand dollars a month. But that covers a 24-hour concierge, a fitness center with a sauna and lap pool, and that crazy robot parking system. When something breaks in the building, it gets fixed immediately. That’s what you’re paying for.
Sales prices usually start well into the several-million-dollar range. Even in "down" years for real estate, these units tend to hold their value because there are only 24 of them. It's a supply and demand thing. If three people want a full-floor flat in Rittenhouse and only one is for sale, the seller wins.
Some critics argue that the building is too private. If you like the social aspect of a big condo—meeting people at the pool or the residents' lounge—you might find 1706 a bit lonely. It’s designed for people who value anonymity over community. It’s a "nod in the elevator" kind of building, not a "let’s have a floor-wide potluck" kind of building.
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What you need to know before eyeing a unit
If you're seriously looking at 1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA, you need to understand the nuances of the condo board and the specific floor plans.
- Customization is King: Because these were sold as raw or semi-raw spaces originally, no two units look exactly alike. One might have a minimalist, ultra-modern vibe, while the one above it looks like a traditional Parisian apartment.
- The View Hierarchy: The lower floors are great for feeling "in" the trees, but the real magic happens above the 15th floor. That’s where you clear the surrounding rooftops and get that unobstructed view of the City Hall William Penn statue.
- The Amenities: The pool is a "lap pool." It’s built for exercise, not for throwing a pool party. The gym is top-tier but compact.
The building also has a very high "owner-occupancy" rate. You aren't going to find many short-term rentals or corporate suites here. People who live here actually live here. They own the space. That creates a sense of stability that you don't always get in the newer, larger towers.
Practical Steps for Potential Residents or Investors
If you're looking to move into the 19103 zip code and 1706 is on your radar, don't just look at the Zillow photos. You have to understand the micro-market.
- Hire a Rittenhouse Specialist: Don't use a general real estate agent. You need someone who has specifically handled sales in 1706, the Murdoch, or 10 Rittenhouse. They know the "off-market" whispers before a unit even hits the MLS.
- Audit the Condo Docs: Look closely at the reserve fund. A building with an automated parking system needs a healthy reserve for maintenance. Those robots are cool, but they aren't cheap to fix.
- Check the Tax Abatements: Most of the original 10-year tax abatements on these units have expired by now. Make sure you calculate your monthly carrying costs with full property taxes factored in. It’s a significant jump from the "abated" years.
- Visit at Different Times: Walk the block at 8:00 AM on a Tuesday and 10:00 PM on a Saturday. See if the proximity to the square’s nightlife is something you actually enjoy.
1706 Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia PA remains a landmark for a reason. It didn't try to be the biggest building, just the most private. In a world where everything is shared on social media, having a fortress of glass where you can truly be alone is the ultimate luxury.
Stay focused on the long-term appreciation of the 19103 area. While the city changes, the demand for high-end, full-floor living in the heart of Center City has remained remarkably consistent over the last two decades.