One South Broad Building vs Naval Hospital Philadelphia

One South Broad Building
Naval Hospital Philadelphia

Comparing the One South Broad Building and the Naval Hospital Philadelphia is interesting because they both stand in Philadelphia, PA, and were completed within 3 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
144m
Floors
28

Height & Size

Height
m
Floors
15

The One South Broad Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 472ft (144m) with 28 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.

Style
Art Deco

Architectural Style

Style
Art Deco

Both the One South Broad Building 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 John Torrey Windrim 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.

Main use
Commercial

Uses

Main use
Medical

The One South Broad Building is primarily commercial, while the Naval Hospital Philadelphia is primarily medical.

Structure
Frame
Facade
Masonry

Structure & Facade

Structure
Frame
Facade
Masonry

Both the One South Broad Building 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.

One South Broad Building Naval Hospital Philadelphia
John Torrey Windrim Architect Karcher and Smith
1930 Construction Started 1933
1932 Year Completed 1935
Art Deco Architectural Style Art Deco
Commercial Current Use Medical
28 Floors Above Ground 15
43,000 m² Usable Area (m²) 32,700 m²
Frame Structure Type Frame
Steel Vertical Structure Material Steel
Concrete Horizontal Structure Material Concrete
No Facade Structural? No
Limestone Main Facade Material Yellow Brick, Brown Terracotta
PA State PA
Philadelphia City Philadelphia
1 South Broad Street Address Pattison Avenue Between South Broad St. To 20th St.