The Club started its life in a modest facility at 923 Walnut Street. Under the leadership of George D. Widener, the current 16th Street Clubhouse was built by noted architect Horace Trumbauer. Historian Nathaniel Burt described the new 1907 Clubhouse as "by far the best appointed...of all Philadelphia clubs." The clubhouse is one of the first reinforced concrete structures designed in Philadelphia
, and also includes the first above grade swimming pool, designed by the noted bridge builders, Roebling Construction Company. The building's red-brick, Georgian design, is evocative of historic Philadelphia, and the Clubhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Today, the Racquet Club is comprised of over 850 members, and is regarded as a highly competitive athletic, as well as full-service city club. The Clubhouse contains one Court Tennis court, six International Squash courts, the country's first Doubles Squash court, and a Racquets court. The newly renovated state of the art fitness and training center is open 24-hours a day. The Club offers its members formal as well as casual dining, traditional reading room, sauna and steam rooms, pool and darts, elegantly appointed overnight accommodations, and access to private meeting/dining rooms. The club also offers affinity clubs within the club around interests such as golf, sailing, wines, and the outdoors. The Racquet Club of Philadelphia is a members-only private club.
2020 Platinum Club of America - Top 20 Athletic Club
