Lewis Tower vs Naval Hospital Philadelphia

Comparing the Lewis Tower and the Naval Hospital Philadelphia is interesting because they both rise in Philadelphia, PA, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Edmun Gilchrist and Karcher and Smith, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished more than 6 years apart.

This contrast within the same city allows us to see how different creative minds interpreted the evolving needs of Philadelphia across time.

Let's take a closer look!

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 Naval Hospital Philadelphia reaches 0ft (m) with 15 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 Lewis Tower and the Naval Hospital Philadelphia 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 Edmun Gilchrist and Karcher and Smith followed what was in many ways expected of them, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms, rather than breaking with convention.

The Lewis Tower is primarily residential, while the Naval Hospital Philadelphia is primarily medical.

Originally, the Lewis Tower was designed for commercial, but over time it was converted to residential. The Naval Hospital Philadelphia by contrast has maintained its original role.

Both the Lewis Tower and the Naval Hospital Philadelphia 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.