The clearing of three blocks north of Independence Hall in the 1950s meant the wholesale demolition of many 19th century buildings; it also meant a new, open vista of Independence Hall—and it created parkside real estate for private investment. In the late 1950s, Rohm and Haas became the first company to buy in to the new Independence Mall, securing the southwest corner of Sixth and Market Streets.
Completed in 1964, the building, designed by Pietro Belluschi and George M. Ewing Co., was lauded for its respect to the nearby park and historical buildings. Initially a branch of a German firm, Rohm & Haas made its U.S. debut at 202 N. Second Street in 1909. Before building at Independence Mall, Rohm & Haas was headquartered on Washington Square.
The nine-story building's most notable feature is its translucent, corrugated sunscreens. Supported by aluminum lattices throughout the building's facade, the sunscreens were made of Rohm and Haas's principal product, Plexiglas. In 2007 the Rohm and Haas Corporate Headquarters was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of the best examples of the International style.
In 2009, Dow Chemical bought Rohm & Haas and put their name on the building. The building was rebranded as 100 Independence Mall in 2013 when it was purchased by Keystone Property Group. Dow moved out in 2015 and Mcquarie Investment Management recently became the lead tenant and now has it's logo on the top of the building.
1964, almost complete 1968 2010