Singer Building vs Pittsfield Building

Comparing the Singer Building and the Pittsfield Building is interesting because they both stand in Chicago, IL, and were completed just one year apart, but they were designed by different architects.

This offers a unique glimpse at how rival designers approached projects in the same city during the same era.

The Pittsfield Building is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 551ft (168m) with 38 floors above ground, while the Singer Building reaches 0ft (m) with 10 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 Singer Building and the Pittsfield 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.

The Singer Building is primarily residential, while the Pittsfield Building is primarily commercial.

However, both of them have shifted purpose since their completion. The Singer Building evolved from commercial to residential, while the Pittsfield Building moved from medical to commercial.

The Singer Building offers 9 residential units.

Both the Singer Building and the Pittsfield Building 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 Masonry facade.

A masonry facade gives the building a heavier, more traditional appearance. It often conceals a frame structure behind it, creating the look of solid walls without carrying the main loads.