Chicago Tribune Tower vs American Radiator Building

Comparing the Chicago Tribune Tower and the American Radiator Building is an interesting exercise, because even though they are located in different cities (Chicago, IL and New York, NY), both were designed by Howells & Hood 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 Chicago Tribune Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 463ft (141m) with 36 floors above ground, while the American Radiator Building reaches 338ft (103m) 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 Tribune Tower was designed in the Neogothic style, while the American Radiator Building reflects the principles of Art Deco.

The American Radiator Building marked the rise of the Art Deco, while the Chicago Tribune Tower represented one of the last echoes of the Neogothic. Together, they frame a moment of transition, when an older movement was fading and a new one was just beginning to take shape. The 1-year gap between their completions makes the overlap between decline and emergence even more apparent.

The Chicago Tribune Tower is primarily residential, while the American Radiator Building is primarily hotel.

However, both of them have shifted purpose since their completion. The Chicago Tribune Tower evolved from commercial to residential, while the American Radiator Building moved from commercial to hotel.

The American Radiator Building incorporates a 4-star hotel with 130 rooms. More information is available at the official website.

The Chicago Tribune Tower offers 162 residential units.

Both the Chicago Tribune Tower and the American Radiator 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.