After graduation, Rouse worked for several development firms (including
The Rouse Company) before founding Rouse and Associates, a real estate development company primarily focused on office and industrial development, in 1972. Rouse was the developer of
One Liberty Place, designed by
Helmut Jahn, the first structure in
Philadelphia to exceed the traditional height limitation established by the top of the statue of
William Penn atop
Philadelphia City Hall. which was controversial when initially proposed but, after its completion in 1987, was ultimately acclaimed as "the finest skyscraper Philadelphia had seen" in decades and a catalyst for the modernization of the Philadelphia skyline. One Liberty Place remained the tallest building in Philadelphia until the completion of the
Comcast Center in 2007. Rouse was also involved in the construction of the
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the
Pennsylvania Convention Center. During plans to develop
Penn's Landing, Rouse was the target of an
extortion attempt by Philadelphia city councilman
Leland Beloff and organized crime boss
Nicodemo Scarfo. Rouse assisted the
FBI in an undercover operation that led to the conviction of both Beloff and Scarfo.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2003/05/26/daily6.html|title=Willard Rouse, 60, dies; transformed Phila.'s skyline Rouse was an active civic leader in Philadelphia, serving as chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and We the People 200, Inc., a celebration of the U.S. Constitution's 200th anniversary. == Personal life and death ==