MCI Center vs Bank of America Plaza Building

MCI Center
Bank of America Plaza Building

Comparing the MCI Center and the Bank of America Plaza Building is interesting because they both stand in Los Angeles, CA, and were completed within 2 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.

Height
126m
Floors
31

Height & Size

Height
224m
Floors
55

The Bank of America Plaza Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 735ft (224m) with 55 floors above ground, while the MCI Center reaches 413ft (126m) with 31 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.

Style
International Style

Architectural Style

Style
International Style

Both the MCI Center and the Bank of America Plaza Building 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.

Main use
Commercial

Uses

Main use
Commercial

Both the MCI Center and the Bank of America Plaza Building were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

The Bank of America Plaza Building also provides 343 parking spaces.

Structure
Frame
Facade
Curtain Wall

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Curtain Wall

Both the MCI Center and the Bank of America Plaza Building 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.

MCI Center Bank of America Plaza Building
The Luckman Partnership Architect AC Martin & Associates
1973 Year Completed 1975
International Style Architectural Style International Style
Commercial Current Use Commercial
31 Floors Above Ground 55
2 Floors Below Ground 9
126 m Height (m) 224 m
63,032 m² Usable Area (m²) 132,081 m²
Frame Structure Type Frame
Steel Vertical Structure Material Steel
Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Concrete
No Facade Structural? Yes
Aluminum, Glass Main Facade Material Granite, Glass
CA State CA
Los Angeles City Los Angeles
700 724 South Flower Street Address 301 333 South Hope