Commonwealth Promenade Apartments vs Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse

Comparing the Commonwealth Promenade Apartments and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Chicago, IL, and were both designed by Mies van der Rohe. However, they were completed more than 8 years apart.

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

Both the Commonwealth Promenade Apartments and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the International Style style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So Mies van der Rohe followed what was in many ways expected at the time, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms rather, than breaking with convention.

The Commonwealth Promenade Apartments is primarily residential, while the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse is primarily governmental.

Both the Commonwealth Promenade Apartments and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse 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 Curtain Wall facade.

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing facade hung from the structural frame. It is anchored to floor slabs and transfers only its own weight and wind loads, allowing for sleek, glassy exteriors.