1 Independent Square vs VyStar Tower

Comparing the 1 Independent Square and the VyStar Tower is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Jacksonville, FL, and were both designed by KBJ Architects. However, they were completed more than 15 years apart.

This offers a unique perspective on how the architect's style and the city's architecture evolved over time.

The 1 Independent Square is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 535ft (163m) with 37 floors above ground, while the VyStar Tower reaches 358ft (109m) with 24 floors above ground.

Of course, each project may have faced different briefs or regulatory constraints, which we don't really know about and could also explain the outcome.

Both the 1 Independent Square and the VyStar Tower were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Postmodernism style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So KBJ Architects followed what was in many ways expected at the time, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms rather, than breaking with convention.

Both the 1 Independent Square and the VyStar Tower were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

The 1 Independent Square also provides 250 parking spaces.

The two towers rely on different structural systems, reflecting distinct engineering strategies.

The 1 Independent Square uses a Frame structural system, which relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight, while the VyStar Tower uses a Framed Tube In Tube system, that combines a strong central core with a perimeter tube of columns.

Yet, when it comes to their facade, they both employed the same solution, a Curtain Wall facade.

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing facade hung from the structural frame. It is anchored to floor slabs and transfers only its own weight and wind loads, allowing for sleek, glassy exteriors.