Randolph Tower vs Fisher Building

Comparing the Randolph Tower and the Fisher Building is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Karl M. Vitzthum and D. H. Burnham & Company, 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!

The Randolph Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 463ft (141m) with 45 floors above ground, while the Fisher Building reaches 443ft (135m) 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.

Both the Randolph Tower and the Fisher Building were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Neogothic style.

Both buildings were completed when the Neogothic style was already past its peak. This makes them feel like late echoes of the movement, more reflective of continuity or nostalgia than of cutting-edge design at the time.

The Randolph Tower is primarily residential, while the Fisher Building is primarily commercial.

Originally, the Randolph Tower was designed for commercial, but over time it was converted to residential. The Fisher Building by contrast has maintained its original role.

In terms of capacity, the Randolph Tower offers 312 apartments, while the Fisher Building provides 184 units.

The Fisher Building also provides 964 parking spaces.

Both the Randolph Tower and the Fisher 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.