One Magnificent Mile Building vs 383 Madison Avenue Building

Comparing the One Magnificent Mile Building and the 383 Madison Avenue Building is compelling because they were both designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, yet they stand in different cities (Chicago, IL and New York, NY), and were completed a decade apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places in different periods of time.

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The 383 Madison Avenue Building rises higher at 755ft (230m), while the One Magnificent Mile Building reaches 673ft (205m). However, the One Magnificent Mile Building accommodates more floors with 57 levels above ground, compared to 47 floors in the 383 Madison Avenue Building.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The 383 Madison Avenue Building has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 4.9m, while the One Magnificent Mile Building has more compact floors averaging around 3.6m 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.

The One Magnificent Mile Building was designed in the Postmodernism style, while the 383 Madison Avenue Building reflects the principles of Contemporary.

At the time of their completion, both styles were well established. This makes the comparison especially interesting, because both buildings represent a dominant aesthetic at a particular point in time.

The One Magnificent Mile Building follows a mixed-use model, combining retail, commercial and residential. In contrast, the 383 Madison Avenue Building has remained primarily commercial.

The One Magnificent Mile Building offers 182 residential units.

Both the One Magnificent Mile Building and the 383 Madison Avenue 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 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.