Russ Building vs Shell Building

Comparing the Russ Building and the Shell Building is especially interesting because they share much in common. Both rise in San Francisco, CA both were designed by George W. Kelham, and they were completed within 2 years of each other.

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

These two towers present an interesting contrast in their proportions. The Shell Building rises higher at 377ft (115m), while the Russ Building reaches 0ft (m). However, the Russ Building accommodates more floors with 32 levels above ground, compared to 28 floors in the Shell Building.

This suggests different approaches to interior space design. The Shell Building has an average floor-to-floor height of approximately 4.1m, while the Russ Building has more compact floors averaging around 0m 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 Russ Building and the Shell Building were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the Neogothic style.

Both buildings were completed when the Neogothic 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 Russ Building and the Shell Building were designed to serve as commercial towers, and that has remained their main use since their completion, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

The Russ Building also provides 350 parking spaces.

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