Pittsfield Building vs Field Building

Comparing the Pittsfield Building and the Field Building is particularly interesting because they share the same skyline in Chicago, IL, and were both designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. However, they were completed more than 7 years apart.

This offers a unique perspective on how the architect's style and the city's architecture evolved over time.

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The Pittsfield Building rises higher at 551ft (168m), while the Field Building reaches 535ft (163.1m). However, the Field Building accommodates more floors with 45 levels above ground, compared to 38 floors in the Pittsfield Building.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The Pittsfield Building has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 4.4m, while the Field 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 Pittsfield Building was designed in the Neogothic style, while the Field Building reflects the principles of Art Deco.

The Pittsfield Building represents a late expression of the Neogothic, a style already in decline in 1927 when it was completed. By contrast, the Field Building followed the then mainstream Art Deco, embodying the dominant architectural direction of its time.

Both the Pittsfield Building and the Field Building are primarily commercial towers, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

However, both of them have shifted purpose since their completion. The Pittsfield Building evolved from medical to commercial, while the Field Building moved from Office. Bank. Radio Station to commercial.

These two towers illustrate the many possible ways to combine structure and enclosure in skyscraper design.