The Metropolitan 

The Metropolitan at 117 N. 15th Street has a rich and storied history. Completed in 1929, it once formed part of the original YMCA in Philadelphia. During the Second World War it housed men passing through the city to and from deployments. The building also played host to many USO events during this time including dances, holiday dinners, and ping pong tournaments. Unfortunately, the building fell into disrepair like so many others in the '60s and '70s. In the 1980s, with redevelopment sweeping the city, the Art Deco building was purchased and converted into luxury apartments. By the early 2000s it was time for units to be upgraded with cherry cabinets and floors as well as sleek granite countertops. One perk of the building was the sweeping views of Love Park and The Parkway. However, in 2013 the City of Philadelphia began construction on the new Family Court Building directly across the street, dramatically altering the sight-lines of all residents with west-facing windows, including the model unit.

Nicole Elizabeth INTRS worked with ownership to create a new model unit, which, in addition to the newly obstructed view also suffered from a challenging layout that was a hard sell when potential tenants saw it unfurnished. For this model we repurposed a number of pieces from the previous unit and mixed in new furniture, bedding, and accessories to give the apartment a fresh look. We kept the overall palette light and neutral while adding pops of color taken from the existing artwork. The building attracts a wide demographic, particularly young professionals and empty nesters. Therefore, all of our selections were made to not only reflect that base but also appeal to broader audience.

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