MTV Real World Philadelphia

The 11,000 sq. ft. neoclassical building is located in the Old City section of Philadelphia and was purchased on 1/03/2003 by Yaron Properties for $2,200,000. Constructed in 1902, the building was placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places on 1/6/1977. At the time of the purchase, Yaron Properties was already planning to renovate the building.

Approximately $3 million worth of furnishings and construction went towards converting the former Union National Bank of Philadelphia building, then Church for the Merchant Seamen’s Center into a Real World house. There were 42 fixed cameras mounted inside the building.

The interior was designed by Norm Dodge of Norm Dodge & Associates, who does residential and commercial renovation and interior design as well as film and television design from New York and Los Angeles.

In March 2004, workers were two-thirds finished with drywalling when producers announced they were leaving because due to a dispute with the local trade unions. The work on the building was delayed several weeks.

Yaron Properties is now planning to convert the Former Seamen's Church Institute building into retail space.