First National Bank Tower vs WoodmenLife Tower

Comparing the First National Bank Tower and the WoodmenLife Tower is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Omaha, NE, and were both designed by Leo A. Daly. However, they were completed more than 33 years apart.

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

The First National Bank Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 633ft (193m) with 45 floors above ground, while the WoodmenLife Tower reaches 479ft (146m) with 30 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 First National Bank Tower was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the WoodmenLife Tower reflects the principles of International Style.

The First National Bank Tower represents a late expression of the Postmodernism, a style already in decline in 2002 when it was completed. By contrast, the WoodmenLife Tower followed the then mainstream International Style, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

With 33 years between them, the comparison also reflects how quickly architectural priorities can shift from one dominant language to another.

Both the First National Bank Tower and the WoodmenLife Tower were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

The First National Bank Tower also provides 300 parking spaces.

The two towers rely on different structural systems, reflecting distinct engineering strategies.

The First National Bank Tower uses a Framed Tube In Tube structural system, which combines a strong central core with a perimeter tube of columns, while the WoodmenLife Tower uses a Frame system, that relies on a regular grid of columns and beams to sustain its weight.

Yet, when it comes to their facade, they both employed the same solution, 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.