Philadelphia's best buildings contest: Elite Eight

The Sweet 16 votes are in, and you didn’t hold back — we received 387 responses!

• Time for the Elite 8.

Liberty Place vs. Fisher Fine Arts Library

Liberty Place, Philly’s first skyscraper that soared above William Penn atop City Hall, took 66% of the vote, convincingly beating our newest and tallest additions to the skyline, the Comcast Towers.

• The Elite Eight pits Liberty Place’s iconic spires and glass facades against the Fisher Fine Arts Library, a 19th-century masterpiece. The two couldn’t be more different!

City Hall vs. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Unsurprisingly, City Hall toppled the Parkway Central Library, garnering more than 86% of your votes.

• Now City Hall — at one point the tallest structure in the world — takes on the art museum. We're predicting a nail-biter here.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts vs. Wanamaker Building

North Broad’s fine arts academy defeated the only church in the tournament, pulling out a tight win (51.7%) against the Church of the Gesú.

• Designed by architects Frank Furness and George Hewitt, the U.S.'s first school and museum of fine arts takes on the Wanamaker Building, another 19th-century gem.

Shofuso House vs. Carpenters' Hall

Home to some of the best cherry trees in the city, the Shofuso House won a squeaker (50.4%) against the Lemon Hill Mansion in the battle of Fairmount Park buildings.

• Now it's a matchup between the smallest buildings left: the Japanese tea house vs. Carpenters’ Hall.

🗳 Elite Eight voting is open!

• Polls close at 3pm.