Chicago Temple Building vs Chicago Board of Trade Building

Comparing the Chicago Temple Building and the Chicago Board of Trade Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Chicago, IL, and were both designed by Holabird & Root. However, they were completed more than 15 years apart.

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

The Chicago Board of Trade Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 604ft (184m) with 44 floors above ground, while the Chicago Temple Building reaches 568ft (173m) with 23 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 Chicago Temple Building was designed in the Neogothic style, while the Chicago Board of Trade Building 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 Chicago Temple Building is primarily religious, while the Chicago Board of Trade Building is primarily commercial.

Both the Chicago Temple Building and the Chicago Board of Trade Building 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.