777 Tower vs Wells Fargo Center

Comparing the 777 Tower and the Wells Fargo Center is an interesting exercise, because even though they are located in different cities (Los Angeles, CA and Minneapolis, MN), both were designed by César Pelli & Associates and finished within within 3 years of each other. This gives us the chance to see how the same architect's ideas were expressed in different urban contexts almost simultaneously.

The Wells Fargo Center is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 774ft (236m) with 57 floors above ground, while the 777 Tower reaches 725ft (221m) with 53 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 777 Tower was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the Wells Fargo Center reflects the principles of Art Deco.

Both towers were built when their respective styles were already past their prime. This makes them feel more like late continuations rather than groundbreaking statements, showing how architectural traditions can linger even as tastes shift.

Both the 777 Tower and the Wells Fargo Center 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 two towers rely on different structural systems, reflecting distinct engineering strategies.

The 777 Tower uses a Framed Tube In Tube structural system, which combines a strong central core with a perimeter tube of columns, while the Wells Fargo Center 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 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.