One Superior Place vs 474 North Lake Shore Drive

Comparing the One Superior Place and the 474 North Lake Shore Drive is interesting because they both rise in Chicago, IL, yet they were conceived by two different design teams, Loewenberg + Associates and Dubin, Dubin, Black & Moutoussamy, and were completed at different points in time. They were finished more than 9 years apart.

This contrast within the same city allows us to see how different creative minds interpreted the evolving needs of Chicago across time.

Let's take a closer look!

The 474 North Lake Shore Drive is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 581ft (177m) with 61 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.

Both the One Superior Place and the 474 North Lake Shore Drive were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Modern style.

Both buildings were completed when the Modern 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.

Both the One Superior Place and the 474 North Lake Shore Drive 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 Superior Place offers 788 apartments, while the 474 North Lake Shore Drive provides 502 units.

Both the One Superior Place and the 474 North Lake Shore Drive 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.