An Old Philadelphia Penthouse Is Brilliantly Transformed Into a Snazzy Co-Working Space

Here at Dwell, we’ve long adored Bond Collective. While we might be a bit biased—given that our very own New York office is sited in one of their stylish, community-driven co-working spaces—we were ecstatic to hear that the company has just opened a new location in Philadelphia as part of a national expansion. Based on the top floor of a historic Art Deco building in the heart of Center City, Bond Station House will likely take your breath away from the moment you step inside. 

"I’ve never experienced a space quite like this one," states Shlomo Silber, CEO and co-founder of Bond Collective. "The wraparound terrace pulls in such incredible natural light and fresh air—it’s spectacular. With the mesmerizing skyline views and exquisite interior design, I wish I worked in the Bond Station House," he jokingly adds.

Like Bond Collective’s other five locations spread across New York City, Bond Station House was specifically designed with its future members in mind. "What’s remarkable about Bond Collective is that no two spaces are ever the same," explains Elide Rathborne, director of design at Bond Collective. "We draw inspiration from each location’s neighborhood, and revolve the design around that unique community. We want our members to not only feel valued and listened to, but also feel extremely comfortable here."

"For us, interacting with the people who will ultimately be using these spaces is the best part about hospitality design," says Thomas Gibbons, the creative director at Bond Collective who spearheaded the design of the Bond Station House together with Rathborne and Katharina Horath of Christian Lahoude studio. "We like to have the members move in and make the space their own, as the design then becomes a marriage of what we intended and what they transform it into. This way, each location truly becomes a reflection of the personality of each community."

"With the Bond Station House, one of my favorite aspects about the space is its rich history," notes Gibbons. "The building is such an Art Deco gem, so to be able to refurbish the top floor of the building, exhume its details, and celebrate its past has been an incredibly rewarding experience." 

From repurposing much of the original marble to incorporating beautiful, custom chevrons and motifs, Rathborne and Gibbons have seamlessly blended old with new. "In many ways, this building represents a great comeback story," Gibbons says. "We worked hard to illuminate as many connections to the original architecture as possible, and while finding these little moments was more for us, we really hope our members will appreciate them as well."

"We never want people to dread coming to work," concludes Rathborne. "Our goal is to transport them into a space that they want to be in. We hope Bond Station House can be that space, as it’s certainly been an amazing project to bring to life."