461 Fifth Avenue Building vs 383 Madison Avenue Building

461 Fifth Avenue Building
383 Madison Avenue Building

Comparing the 461 Fifth Avenue Building and the 383 Madison Avenue Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in New York, NY, and were both designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. However, they were completed more than 12 years apart.

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

Height
115m
Floors
26

Height & Size

Height
230m
Floors
47

The 383 Madison Avenue Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 755ft (230m) with 47 floors above ground, while the 461 Fifth Avenue Building reaches 377ft (115m) with 26 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
Contemporary

The 461 Fifth Avenue Building was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the 383 Madison Avenue Building 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.

Main use
Commercial

Uses

Main use
Commercial

Both the 461 Fifth Avenue Building and the 383 Madison Avenue Building were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

Structure
Trussed Frame
Facade
Modular

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Modular

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

The 461 Fifth Avenue Building uses a Trussed Frame structural system, which uses diagonal bracing in addition to beams and columns for stability, while the 383 Madison Avenue Building uses a Frame system, that relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight.

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

461 Fifth Avenue Building 383 Madison Avenue Building
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
1988 Construction Started 1999
1989 Year Completed 2001
Postmodernism Architectural Style Contemporary
Commercial Current Use Commercial
26 Floors Above Ground 47
115 m Height (m) 230 m
19,510 m² Usable Area (m²) 86,890 m²
8 Number of Elevators 30
Trussed Frame Structure Type Frame
Steel Vertical Structure Material Steel
Steel, Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Poured Concrete Over Metal Decking
No Facade Structural? No
Pre Cast Concrete, Glass Main Facade Material Granite, Glass
Mitsui Fudosan, London & New York Estates, And Colonial Property Group Developer Gerald D Hines Interests
NY State NY
New York City New York
461 Fifth Avenue Address 383 Madison Avenue