Seagram Building vs Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse

Comparing the Seagram Building and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse is compelling because they were both designed by Mies van der Rohe, yet they stand in different cities (New York, NY and Chicago, IL), and were completed more than 6 years apart.

What this will allow us to see, is how the same firm's approach adapted to different places at roughly the same time (6 years isn't that much time when it comes to urban context and architecture).

The Seagram Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 515ft (157m) with 38 floors above ground, while the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse reaches 384ft (117m) with 27 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 Seagram Building and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse were designed in line with the aesthetic conventions of the International Style style.

At the time, this style was at the height of its popularity. So Mies van der Rohe followed what was in many ways expected at the time, producing designs that fit comfortably within contemporary architectural norms rather, than breaking with convention.

The Seagram Building is primarily commercial, while the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse is primarily governmental.

Both the Seagram Building and the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse 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 Curtain Wall facade.

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing facade hung from the structural frame. It is anchored to floor slabs and transfers only its own weight and wind loads, allowing for sleek, glassy exteriors.