Tall & Urban News

Ideal Concepts, an insurance marketing and technology firm, has proposed the construction of a new skyscraper in downtown Allentown. This building, named Ideal Tower, would become the tallest in the Lehigh Valley, standing at 99 meters, with 21 stories. Ideal has owned the property since 2017. The Ideal Tower will offer various amenities, including an open-air market, a bar, a restaurant, and abundant greenery throughout the building, providing panoramic 360-degree views.

The current tallest building in the area is the PPL Building, located nearby at Ninth and Hamilton, which stands at 98 meters Additionally, there are plans for another tower, known as the "The Landmark," which is expected to reach a height of 420 feet.

James Buckley, the director of building development for Ideal, has presented the plans to the city and they may be discussed in the planning board's meeting on November 8th. After receiving feedback and considering potential design changes, Ideal will begin leasing space to expedite the process. The estimated cost of the project is $95 million.

The goal of this initiative is to attract more businesses to downtown Allentown. While Ideal intends to occupy three or four floors for its corporate headquarters, they aim to attract other companies from outside the Lehigh Valley to establish their headquarters on Hamilton Street. Buckley explained that the founder of Ideal, John Pequeno, has a strong connection to the Lehigh Valley and wants to contribute to the community's positive development and downtown Allentown's revitalization.

Read more about this story at The Morning Call.