Wells Fargo Center vs Aon Center

Comparing the Wells Fargo Center and the Aon Center is an interesting exercise, because even though they are located in different cities (Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA), both were designed by Charles Luckman and finished within just one year apart. This gives us the chance to see how the same architect's ideas were expressed in different urban contexts almost simultaneously.

The Aon Center is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 858ft (261.5m) with 62 floors above ground, while the Wells Fargo Center reaches 545ft (166m) with 40 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 Wells Fargo Center was designed in the Modern style, while the Aon Center reflects the principles of International Style.

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 Wells Fargo Center and the Aon 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.

Both towers provide significant parking capacity, with Wells Fargo Center offering 500 spaces and the Aon Center offering 1028.

Both the Wells Fargo Center and the Aon Center 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 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.