One Bennett Park Building vs 220 Central Park South Tower

Comparing the One Bennett Park Building and the 220 Central Park South Tower is an interesting exercise, because even though they are located in different cities (Chicago, IL and New York, NY), both were designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and finished within in the same year. This gives us the chance to see how the same architect's ideas were expressed in different urban contexts almost simultaneously.

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The 220 Central Park South Tower rises higher at 951ft (290m), while the One Bennett Park Building reaches 837ft (255m). However, the One Bennett Park Building accommodates more floors with 69 levels above ground, compared to 65 floors in the 220 Central Park South Tower.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The 220 Central Park South Tower has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 4.5m, while the One Bennett Park Building has more compact floors averaging around 3.7m each. The taller building's more generous floor heights might indicate grander interior spaces, higher ceilings, or different programmatic requirements.

These different proportions likely reflect the specific needs each building was designed to serve, whether driven by zoning regulations, client requirements, or the intended use of the spaces within. The contrast shows how architects can achieve different spatial experiences even when working with similar overall building scales.

Both the One Bennett Park Building and the 220 Central Park South Tower were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Contemporary style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So Robert A.M. Stern Architects followed what was in many ways expected at the time, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms rather, than breaking with convention.

Both the One Bennett Park Building and the 220 Central Park South 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 One Bennett Park Building offers 350 apartments, while the 220 Central Park South Tower provides 117 units.

Both the One Bennett Park Building and the 220 Central Park South 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 Modular facade.

A modular facade is made of prefabricated panels, sometimes resembling stone or masonry, combined with smaller windows. It provides variety while maintaining efficiency in installation.