Archway II

Located along Frankford Avenue in the heart of Fishtown, this 62–key boutique hotel is designed as an anchor for one of Philadelphia’s most vibrant cultural corridors. The project brings a hospitality presence to a neighborhood defined by its independent restaurants, music venues, and creative community, offering visitors an opportunity to stay within the rhythm of the district rather than at its edges.

The building’s architecture draws from the industrial character of Fishtown while introducing a contemporary expression suited to its evolving urban context. A brick colonnade at the ground level defines the public edge of the project, framing a series of tall arched openings that signal entry and create a generous, welcoming threshold between the street and the hotel’s interior life. Above, the façade transitions to a quieter, ordered composition of windows set within a brick grid, balancing durability with a refined sense of proportion.

At the uppermost level, a sculpted metal roofline introduces a distinct architectural gesture that lightens the massing and brings a dynamic profile to the avenue. The rear elevation responds sensitively to the adjacent residential fabric, stepping in scale and shifting material expression to maintain continuity with the surrounding blocks.

Throughout, the design emphasizes clarity, permanence, and craft. The project seeks to elevate the experience of hospitality in Fishtown while strengthening the character of the streetscape — a building that contributes to the neighborhood’s daily life as much as it serves its guests