Buhl Building vs Town Apartments

Comparing the Buhl Building and the Town Apartments 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 28 years apart.

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

The Buhl Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 367ft (112m) with 27 floors above ground, while the Town Apartments reaches 194ft (59m) with 15 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 Buhl Building was designed in the Neogothic style, while the Town Apartments 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. The fact that they were built 28 years apart also suggests that architectural fashions often outlast their supposed end dates in practice.

The Buhl Building is primarily commercial, while the Town Apartments is primarily residential.

The Town Apartments offers 250 residential units.

The Town Apartments also provides 25 parking spaces.

Both the Buhl Building and the Town 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 Masonry facade.

A masonry facade gives the building a heavier, more traditional appearance. It often conceals a frame structure behind it, creating the look of solid walls without carrying the main loads.