Grand Plaza I Building vs One Superior Place

Comparing the Grand Plaza I Building and the One Superior Place is especially interesting because they share much in common. Both rise in Chicago, IL both were designed by Loewenberg + Associates, and they were completed within 4 years of each other.

This overlap gives us a unique opportunity to understand how Loewenberg + Associates approached different commissions in the same urban context and historical context during a short period.

The Grand Plaza I Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 641ft (195.4m) with 56 floors above ground, while the One Superior Place reaches 502ft (153m) with 52 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.

The Grand Plaza I Building was designed in the Contemporary style, while the One Superior Place reflects the principles of Modern.

The One Superior Place represents a late expression of the Modern, a style already in decline in 1999 when it was completed. By contrast, the Grand Plaza I Building followed the then mainstream Contemporary, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

The Grand Plaza I Building follows a mixed-use model, combining residential, retail and parking. In contrast, the One Superior Place has remained primarily residential.

In terms of capacity, the Grand Plaza I Building offers 481 apartments, while the One Superior Place provides 788 units.

The Grand Plaza I Building also provides 1000 parking spaces.

Both the Grand Plaza I Building and the One Superior Place 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.