860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments vs University Apartments

860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments
University Apartments

Comparing the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments and the University Apartments is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Mies van der Rohe and I. M. Pei, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished more than a decade apart.

This contrast within the same city allows us to see how different creative minds interpreted the evolving needs of Chicago across time.

Let's take a closer look!

Height
82m
Floors
26

Height & Size

Height
94m
Floors
10

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The University Apartments rises higher at 308ft (94m), while the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments reaches 269ft (82m). However, the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments accommodates more floors with 26 levels above ground, compared to 10 floors in the University Apartments.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The University Apartments has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 9.4m, while the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments has more compact floors averaging around 3.2m each. The taller building's more generous floor heights might indicate grander interior spaces, higher ceilings, or different programmatic requirements.

These different proportions likely reflect the specific needs each building was designed to serve, whether driven by zoning regulations, client requirements, or the intended use of the spaces within. The contrast shows how architects can achieve different spatial experiences even when working with similar overall building scales.

Style
International Style

Architectural Style

Style
International Style

Both the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments and the University Apartments were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the International Style style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So both Mies van der Rohe and I. M. Pei followed what was in many ways expected of them, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms, rather than breaking with convention.

Main use
Residential

Uses

Main use
Residential

Both the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments and the University Apartments were designed to serve as residential towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

In terms of capacity, the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments offers 248 apartments, while the University Apartments provides 540 units.

The University Apartments also provides 220 parking spaces.

Structure
Frame
Facade
Window Wall

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Window Wall

Both the 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments and the University Apartments 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 Window Wall facade.

A window wall system is installed between floor slabs. It is simpler and faster to build than curtain walls, but exposes slab edges and requires careful detailing to avoid thermal bridges.

860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments University Apartments
Mies van der Rohe Architect I. M. Pei
1949 Construction Started 1959
1951 Year Completed 1961
International Style Architectural Style International Style
Residential Current Use Residential
26 Floors Above Ground 10
2 Floors Below Ground 1
82 m Height (m) 94 m
248 Residential Units 540
Frame Structure Type Frame
Steel Vertical Structure Material Concrete
Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Concrete
No Facade Structural? Yes
Glass Main Facade Material Glass, Concrete
Georgia Louise Harris Brown Structural Engineer August Komendant
IL State IL
Chicago City Chicago
860–880 Lake Shore Drive Address 1400 1451 E.55th Street