190 South LaSalle Street vs 400 West Market

190 South LaSalle Street
400 West Market

Comparing the 190 South LaSalle Street and the 400 West Market is compelling because they were both designed by Johnson/Burgee Architects, yet they stand in different cities (Chicago, IL and Louisville, KY), and were completed more than 6 years apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places at roughly the same time (6 years isn't that much time when it comes to urban context and architecture).

Height
175m
Floors
40

Height & Size

Height
167m
Floors
35

The 190 South LaSalle Street is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 574ft (175m) with 40 floors above ground, while the 400 West Market reaches 548ft (167m) with 35 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.

Style
Postmodernism

Architectural Style

Style
Postmodernism

Both the 190 South LaSalle Street and the 400 West Market were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Postmodernism style.

The 400 West Market was designed at a moment when the Postmodernism style was already in decline, making it more of a lingering expression of the movement. In contrast, the 190 South LaSalle Street was built when the style still carried greater cultural weight.

Main use
Commercial

Uses

Main use
Commercial

Both the 190 South LaSalle Street and the 400 West Market were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

Both towers provide significant parking capacity, with 190 South LaSalle Street offering 55 spaces and the 400 West Market offering 789.

Structure
Frame
Facade
Modular

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Modular

Both the 190 South LaSalle Street and the 400 West Market rely on a Frame structural system.

A frame structure uses a grid of columns and beams to carry the building's loads. This frees the walls from structural duties, allowing for flexible floor plans and larger windows.

They also employ the same type of facade, a Modular facade.

A modular facade is made of prefabricated panels, sometimes resembling stone or masonry, combined with smaller windows. It provides variety while maintaining efficiency in installation.

190 South LaSalle Street 400 West Market
Johnson/Burgee Architects Architect Johnson/Burgee Architects
1985 Construction Started 1991
1987 Year Completed 1993
Postmodernism Architectural Style Postmodernism
Commercial Current Use Commercial
40 Floors Above Ground 35
175 m Height (m) 167 m
74,209 m² Usable Area (m²) 58,868 m²
Frame Structure Type Frame
Steel Vertical Structure Material Reinforced Concrete
Steel, Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Steel And Concrete
No Facade Structural? No
The John Buck Company Developer Gerald D. Hines Interests
IL State KY
Chicago City Louisville
190 South LaSalle Street Address 400 West Market Street