Columbus Plaza vs Promontory Apartments

Columbus Plaza
Promontory Apartments

Comparing the Columbus Plaza and the Promontory Apartments is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Fujikawa Conterato Lohan and Associates and Mies van der Rohe, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished over two decades apart.

This contrast within the same city allows us to see how different creative minds interpreted the evolving needs of Chicago across time.

Let's take a closer look!

Height
143m
Floors
47

Height & Size

Height
66.5m
Floors
22

The Columbus Plaza is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 469ft (143m) with 47 floors above ground, while the Promontory Apartments reaches 218ft (66.5m) with 22 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.

Style
International Style

Architectural Style

Style
International Style

Both the Columbus Plaza and the Promontory Apartments were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the International Style style.

The Columbus Plaza was designed at a moment when the International Style style was already in decline, making it more of a lingering expression of the movement. In contrast, the Promontory Apartments style was already in decline, making it more of a lingering expression of the movement. In contrast, the Promontory Apartments was built when the style still carried greater cultural weight.

Main use
Residential

Uses

Main use
Residential

Both the Columbus Plaza and the Promontory Apartments were designed to serve as residential towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

In terms of capacity, the Columbus Plaza offers 533 apartments, while the Promontory Apartments provides 122 units.

Structure
Frame
Facade
Window Wall

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Window Wall

Both the Columbus Plaza and the Promontory 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 Window Wall facade.

A window wall system is installed between floor slabs. It is simpler and faster to build than curtain walls, but exposes slab edges and requires careful detailing to avoid thermal bridges.

Columbus Plaza Promontory Apartments
Fujikawa Conterato Lohan and Associates Architect Mies van der Rohe
1978 Construction Started 1947
1980 Year Completed 1949
International Style Architectural Style International Style
Residential Current Use Residential
47 Floors Above Ground 22
143 m Height (m) 66.5 m
533 Residential Units 122
Frame Structure Type Frame
Cast In Place Concrete Vertical Structure Material Concrete
Cast In Place Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Concrete
Yes Facade Structural? No
Concrete, Glass Main Facade Material Brick
McHugh Levin Associates Developer Herbert Greenwald
Alfred Benesch & Company Structural Engineer Frank Kornacker
IL State IL
Chicago City Chicago
233 East Wacker Drive Address 5530–5532 South Shore Dr.