Kluczynski Federal Building vs Two Illinois Center

Comparing the Kluczynski Federal Building and the Two Illinois Center is especially interesting because they share much in common. Both rise in Chicago, IL both were designed by Mies van der Rohe, and they were completed within 3 years of each other.

This overlap gives us a unique opportunity to understand how Mies van der Rohe approached different commissions in the same urban context and historical context during a short period.

The Kluczynski Federal Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 561ft (171m) with 42 floors above ground, while the Two Illinois Center reaches 374ft (114m) with 32 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 Kluczynski Federal Building and the Two Illinois Center were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the International Style style.

Both buildings were completed when the International Style 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 Kluczynski Federal Building is primarily governmental, while the Two Illinois Center is primarily commercial.

Both the Kluczynski Federal Building and the Two Illinois Center 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.