In early 2008, the long-planned expansion of Philadelphia's Convention Center finally got underway, which necessited the destruction of several historic buildings, including an absolutely gorgeous neo-gothic firehouse. At the time of this painting, two city blocks on North Broad Street had been cleared, providing unprecedented views of downtown Philadelphia.

In this painting, I stood at the northern edge of the contruction zone one afternoon looking south toward Arch Street. In the background one sees the former Elks Lodge, the PNB building, City Hall, and the Masonic Temple (itself shrouded in scaffolding during a building restoration project).