BLT Architects

American architectural firm

Not to be confused with BLTA.

Bower Lewis Thrower Architects, Ltd. (BLTa) was an American architectural firm, founded and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] with offices in Atlantic City[2] and Las Vegas.[3] The firm designed, oversaw the renovation, or was the architect of record for numerous projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.[4][5] It merged with Perkins Eastman in 2022.[6]

## Company background

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BLTa was founded as "Bower & Fradley Architects" in 1961 by John Bower and Fred Fradley.[7] In 1978, the firm was renamed to "Bower Fradley Lewis Thrower Architects." The firm kept this name until 1980 when the title changed to "Bower Lewis Thrower Architects." This was shortened in the late 2000s to BLTa for marketing purposes.[8][7][9]

## People

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* Michael L. Prifti, FAIA, Principal
* Eric M. Rahe, AIA, LEED AP, Principal

## Notable projects

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### Residential

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*     * International House Philadelphia(1970) under Bower & Fradley Architects [10][11]
* 101 Walnut Street (2007)[12]
* Symphony House (2007)
* The Phoenix (2002)
* Venice Lofts (2007)
* Alexander (2018)[13][14]
* Lincoln Square (2019)[15]
* Nipper Building[16]
* The St. James luxury apartments, Philadelphia. Assisted Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates[17]

### Hospitality

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*     * The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa (2003)
* Loews Philadelphia Hotel (2000)
* Reading Terminal Headhouse Marriott (1997)
* Revel Resort and Casino (2012)[18][19][20] (with Arquitectonica)[21]
* The Bourse[22]
* Caesars Atlantic City Hotel
* The St. James (assistant architects)[23]

### Mixed use and retail

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*     * Amtrak 30th Street Station Rail Yard (2004)
* DC USA (2008)
* The Borgata Hotel and Spa Retail Piazza
* One Theater Square, Newark
* Forrestal Village, Princeton University[8]

### Parking and intermodal

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*     * Amtrak 30th Street Station Parking Garage (2004)
* Philadelphia International Airport Garage (2003)
* Suburban Station (2006)
* UPENN Module 6 Utility Plant and Garage (1995)

### Office

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*     * FMC Tower at Cira Centre South (with Pelli Clarke Pelli)[24]
* Duane Morris Headquarters (2005)
* Tower Bridge Corporate Campus (2000)

## Awards and recognition

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* 2011
* Top 50 Hotel Design Firms - Building Design+Construction
* Top 100 Architecture Firms - Building Design+Construction
* No. 142, Top 200 Architecture Firms - Architectural Record
* No. 27, Top Design Firms, HA+D Magazine
* IDP Firm Award - The Intern Development Program Advisory Committee (IDPAC)
* 1970
* Gold Medal (American Institute of Architects Philadelphia) for International House [25]

## References

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1. ^ "BLT Architects - American Institute of Architects". www.aiaphiladelphia.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
2. ^ Hinkelman, Michael. "2nd-generation architectural firm charts new growth strategy". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
3. ^ Staff, Casino Style. "Casino Style Magazine - BLT Architects". Casino Style Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
4. ^ "BLT Architects". Emporis. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
5. ^ "BLT Architects - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
6. ^ Niland, Josh (11 February 2022). "Perkins Eastman acquires BLT Architects, its second merger in as many years". Archinect. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
7. ^ a b Diane Mastrull Rebuilding after the recession, Philly.com, Aug 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
8. ^ a b "Architects Roundtable:BowerLewisThrower". www.stoneworld.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
9. ^ "BLTA Trademark of Bower Lewis Thrower Architects Ltd. - Registration Number 4926707 - Serial Number 86723565 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
10. ^ International House Philadelphia's New Permanent Historical Exhibition (photo caption), University of Pennsylvania Almanac, February 26, 2013.
11. ^ Saffron, Inga. "A Brutalist style building designed to promote international understanding". Retrieved 4 March 2019.
12. ^ "101 Walnut, Philadelphia - 206770 - EMPORIS". Emporis. Retrieved 5 March 2019.[dead link]
13. ^ Romero, Melissa (6 November 2017). "Sneak Peek: Inside and above the 34-story Alexander tower". Curbed Philly. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
14. ^ "The Alexander Residential Tower & Meeting House". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
15. ^ "Lincoln Square, Philadelphia | 1405287". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
16. ^ "The Victor, Camden | 129743". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
17. ^ Kostelni, Natallie. "St. James tower is up for sale a year after it was opened". www.bizjournals.com.
18. ^ "Revel Entertainment Names BLT Architects as Executive Architect and Architect of Record - American Institute of Architects". www.aiaphiladelphia.org. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
19. ^ "SOSH Architects - architecture • interiors • planning". www.sosharch.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
20. ^ Len Vermillion Restarting Revel Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, Lodging Magazine, June 2, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
21. ^ "Was The Revel Casino's Design Its Fatal Flaw?". 18 August 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
22. ^ Saffron, Inga. "Society Hill was an urban planning masterpiece. Will these new towers ruin the design?". Retrieved 4 March 2019.
23. ^ Kostelni, Natalie (March 11, 2005). "St. James tower is up for sale a year after it was opened". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
24. ^ "FMC Tower at Cira Centre South – Ground Reconsidered".
25. ^ Bower & Fradley awarded for design of International House, Temple University Libraries

## External links

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* BLT Architects
* "BLT Architects - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
* "BLT Architects". Emporis. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2019.