PENN CENTER – In Center City, this is the heart of Philadelphia’s Central Business District. It is located north of Rittenhouse Square, south of Spring Garden, east of the Schuylkill River, and west of Chinatown.

In the mid to late 20th century, planning efforts moved the city’s office sector west into the Penn Center area. As an increasing suburban population commuted into the city for office-related work, the need for convenient access to Suburban Station became more imperative than local city transit access. The rise of Penn Center is largely credited to the efforts of Ed Bacon, who was a Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. He is also the father of actor, Kevin Bacon.