Comcast Center vs Four Seasons New York Downtown

Comparing the Comcast Center and the Four Seasons New York Downtown is compelling because they were both designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, yet they stand in different cities (Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY), and were completed more than 8 years apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places at roughly the same time (8 years isn't that much time when it comes to urban context and architecture).

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The Comcast Center rises higher at 974ft (297m), while the Four Seasons New York Downtown reaches 925ft (282m). However, the Four Seasons New York Downtown accommodates more floors with 82 levels above ground, compared to 58 floors in the Comcast Center.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The Comcast Center has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 5.1m, while the Four Seasons New York Downtown has more compact floors averaging around 3.4m each. The taller building's more generous floor heights might indicate grander interior spaces, higher ceilings, or different programmatic requirements.

These different proportions likely reflect the specific needs each building was designed to serve, whether driven by zoning regulations, client requirements, or the intended use of the spaces within. The contrast shows how architects can achieve different spatial experiences even when working with similar overall building scales.

Both the Comcast Center and the Four Seasons New York Downtown were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Contemporary style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So Robert A.M. Stern Architects 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 Four Seasons New York Downtown follows a mixed-use model, combining residential and hotel. In contrast, the Comcast Center has remained primarily commercial.

The Four Seasons New York Downtown incorporates a 5-star hotel with 189 rooms. More information is available at the official website.

The Four Seasons New York Downtown offers 157 residential units.

The Comcast Center also provides 120 parking spaces.

Both towers share the same structural solution, a Frame 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.

However, when it comes to the facade, both buildings use different approaches. The Comcast Center uses a Curtain Wall facade, while the Four Seasons New York Downtown uses a Modular facade.

A Curtain Wall facade like the one seen in the Comcast Center uses a lightweight glass curtain wall hung from the structure, while a modular facade like the one seen in the Four Seasons New York Downtown employs prefabricated panels, often mixing solid surfaces with smaller windows.