National Bank of North Philadelphia vs Lewis Tower

Comparing the National Bank of North Philadelphia and the Lewis Tower is interesting because they both stand in Philadelphia, PA, and were completed within 4 years of each other, but they were designed by different architects.

This offers a unique glimpse at how rival designers approached projects in the same city during the same era.

The Lewis Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 390ft (119m) with 33 floors above ground, while the National Bank of North Philadelphia reaches 0ft (m) with 14 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 National Bank of North Philadelphia and the Lewis Tower were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Art Deco style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So both William H. Lee and Edmun Gilchrist followed what was in many ways expected of them, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms, rather than breaking with convention.

Both the National Bank of North Philadelphia and the Lewis Tower are primarily residential towers, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

However, both of them have shifted purpose since their completion. The National Bank of North Philadelphia evolved from commercial to residential, while the Lewis Tower moved from commercial to residential.

Both the National Bank of North Philadelphia and the Lewis 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 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.