Chicago Tribune Tower vs 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding

Comparing the Chicago Tribune Tower and the 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding is compelling because they were both designed by Howells & Hood, yet they stand in different cities (Chicago, IL and New York, NY), and were completed more than 8 years apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places at roughly the same time (8 years isn't that much time when it comes to urban context and architecture).

The 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 853ft (260m) with 70 floors above ground, while the Chicago Tribune Tower reaches 463ft (141m) with 36 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 Tribune Tower was designed in the Neogothic style, while the 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding reflects the principles of Art Deco.

The Chicago Tribune Tower represents a late expression of the Neogothic, a style already in decline in 1925 when it was completed. By contrast, the 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding followed the then mainstream Art Deco, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

The Chicago Tribune Tower is primarily residential, while the 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding is primarily commercial.

Originally, the Chicago Tribune Tower was designed for commercial, but over time it was converted to residential. The 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding by contrast has maintained its original role.

The Chicago Tribune Tower offers 162 residential units.

Both the Chicago Tribune Tower and the 30 Rockefeller Plaza Buiding 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.