Singer Building vs Randolph Tower

Comparing the Singer Building and the Randolph Tower is interesting because they both stand in Chicago, IL, and were completed within 3 years of each other, 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 Randolph Tower is clearly the larger tower of the two, both in terms of height and number of floors. It rises to 463ft (141m) with 45 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 Randolph Tower 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 Singer Building and the Randolph Tower are primarily residential towers, serving similar roles in the urban fabric.

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

In terms of capacity, the Singer Building offers 9 apartments, while the Randolph Tower provides 312 units.

Both the Singer Building and the Randolph Tower 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.