Guardian Building vs 1001 Woodward

Comparing the Guardian Building and the 1001 Woodward is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Detroit, MI, and were both designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. However, they were completed more than 36 years apart.

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

The Guardian Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 495ft (151m) with 36 floors above ground, while the 1001 Woodward reaches 338ft (103m) with 23 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 Guardian Building was designed in the Art Deco style, while the 1001 Woodward reflects the principles of International Style.

At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.

Built 36 years apart (1929 vs 1965), these two buildings are a perfect example of how different architectural styles have shaped the architectural landscape of our cities over time.

Both the Guardian Building and the 1001 Woodward were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

These two towers illustrate the many possible ways to combine structure and enclosure in skyscraper design.