1001 Woodward vs AT&T Building

Comparing the 1001 Woodward and the AT&T Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Detroit, MI, and were both designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. However, they were completed more than 37 years apart.

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

The 1001 Woodward is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 338ft (103m) with 23 floors above ground, while the AT&T Building reaches 318ft (97m) with 19 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 1001 Woodward was designed in the International Style style, while the AT&T Building reflects the principles of Art Deco.

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.

Built 37 years apart (1965 vs 1928), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.

Both the 1001 Woodward and the AT&T 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.

These two towers illustrate the many possible ways to combine structure and enclosure in skyscraper design.