155 Harbor Condominium vs Lake Point Tower

Comparing the 155 Harbor Condominium and the Lake Point Tower is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Schipporeit & Heinrich, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished more than 7 years 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 Lake Point Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 646ft (197m) with 70 floors above ground, while the 155 Harbor Condominium reaches 551ft (168m) with 54 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 155 Harbor Condominium and the Lake Point Tower were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Modern style.

Both buildings were completed when the Modern 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.

Both the 155 Harbor Condominium and the Lake Point Tower were designed to serve as residential towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

In terms of capacity, the 155 Harbor Condominium offers 742 apartments, while the Lake Point Tower provides 725 units.

The Lake Point Tower also provides 709 parking spaces.

Both the 155 Harbor Condominium and the Lake Point Tower 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.