1201 Third Avenue Tower vs One Vanderbilt

Comparing the 1201 Third Avenue Tower and the One Vanderbilt is compelling because they were both designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, yet they stand in different cities (Seattle, WA and New York, NY), and were completed over two decades apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places in different periods of time.

The One Vanderbilt is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 1401ft (427m) with 67 floors above ground, while the 1201 Third Avenue Tower reaches 771ft (235m) with 55 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.

The 1201 Third Avenue Tower was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the One Vanderbilt reflects the principles of Contemporary.

At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.

Built 32 years apart (1988 vs 2020), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.

Both the 1201 Third Avenue Tower and the One Vanderbilt 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 1201 Third Avenue Tower also provides 810 parking spaces.

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

The 1201 Third Avenue Tower uses a Frame structural system, which relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight, while the One Vanderbilt uses a Trussed Frame system, that uses diagonal bracing in addition to beams and columns for stability.

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.